Orchidaceae

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Bee Orchids - Ophrys apifera

Bee orchids don't look exactly like bees.  No matter - they are not there to look like bees, they are there to attract bees.  Ethologists have shown that many species of animals will react more strongly to a model that exaggerates one or more features than they will to the real thing.  So perhaps the bee orchid has found a pattern that attracts a male bee more strongly than a perfect imitation of a female bee would do.  Who knows?  Or perhaps it is still evolving towards a better pattern.

More orchids of the limestone country

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