Ophrys vernixia

I'm not going to lie to you, I have overlooked this genus for a long time. It never really seemed that interesting to me. I often described them as being snap dragon esc. That is until I came acroos Ophrys vernixia while I was flipping through Encyclopedia of Orchids today.

Have you ever seen a flower that resembled an insect so well? To me it is truly astounding how a flower, through millions of years of evolution could come to resemble the very insect that it relies upon for pollination. So it probably doesn't surprise you that this orchid uses pseudocopulation means of pollinating itself.

Ophrys vernixia is hardy to zone 8 and does have a resting period below the soil where it has two tubers. The first is responsible for the current season growth, and the second is responsible for next seasons growth.  This plant grows in open meadows so it does like full sun. It is not commonly cultivated do the level attention required. They need a period of summer baking, which can be suplimented by relocating specimens to an alpine house.

"2008 Triarch (Conant) Botanical Images Student Travel Awards." Botanical Society of America, Leading Scientists and Educators since 1893. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.botany.org/plantimages/conantsta2008.php>.

Pridgeon, Alec, ed. "OPHRYS L." The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids. Portland, Oregon: Timber, 2006. 205-07. Web.