Andalucia Life Fauna and Flora, Flowers of Andalucia Southern Spain
December 2004, Yellow Ophrys, Ophrys lutea
The Yellow Ophrys is another example of one of the 80 orchid species to be found in Spain. This one was photographed near the Cueva del Hundidero, a secluded limestone valley near Grazalema, rich in unusual and rare plants.
It flowers from March to May and is fairly distinctive with oval basal leaves, greenish oval sepals and yellow upper petals, the lip is oval, 3 lobed and yellow with a maroon centre.
The Yellow Orphrys can reach a height of 25 cms but is often hidden in the surrounding vegetation. It favours carrique and stony maquis. Like all orchids the Yellow Orphrys depends on fungi to supply nutrients whilst using its green leaves to supply glucose to the fungi.