Bee Orchid
Ophrys apifera
Local in England and Wales on Calcareous soils and sand dunes

Early Spider orchid
Ophrys sphegodes
In England on or near South Coasts - particularly in South and South-East

Fly orchid
Ophrys insectifera
Local in England and Wales
on Calcareous soils

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Ophrys cretica

Ophrys fuciflora ssp maxima

Ophrys fuciflora ssp maxima

Ophrys heldreichii

Ophrys candica

Ophrys candica variant

Ophrys bombyliflora

Ophrys iricolor

Ophrys omegaifera

Ophrys lutea

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Ophrys heldreichii

Variations

Variations

Ophrys sicula

Ophrys Species of Crete

Going South of Britain through Europe the variety and number of species increases until on Southern Coasts and  on the Mediterranean Islands there are a large number of  species and variations.

Ophrys Orchids
Of all the terrestrial orchids, the Ophrys group are possibly the most beautiful and the most interesting.

Ophrys Species of Britain
Britain is north of the range of most of the Ophrys species of Europe with only 4 species here at all. Of these the Early Spider orchid is on the south coast and the rare Late Spider orchid is found only in East Kent.

Ophrys heldreichii