Ophrys

The kind Ophrys is a kind of orchises (of the Orchidaceae ) terrestrial euraméditerranéennes widespread of the south of Scandinavia in North Africa and the Caspian Sea.

They are plants presenting 2 or 3 tubers, of the sheets in basal rivet washer and a floral pole in general pauciflorous. The flowers have the spread out sepals and side petals. The labelle one is without spur, more or less whole, provided at the same time with an important pilosity and a glabrous zone called macula. It is undoubtedly this pilosity which was worth its name with the kind, the word ophrus meaning in Greek “eyebrow”.

The most remarkable characteristic in this kind is consisted the relations which developed with the insects and in particular various species of wild bees. The labelle one of the Ophrys imitating a body of Hyménoptère (exceptionally of Coleopter) causes furious pseudocopulations on behalf of the males attracted in more by substances emitted by the evoking Ophrys of the sexual Phéromone S of the corresponding female.

According to the species, there is a cephalic pollination (the male carrying the Pollinie S stuck on the head) or an abdominal pollination when the pseudocopulation is done in the opposite position (exceptionally in side position!). This mechanism is very precise and explains the evolutionary radiation met in this kind. There exist indeed approximately 150 to 300 species and subspecies of ophrys on their surface of distribution.

Certain influencing Belgian orchidologists (Devillers-Terschuren, Delforge) classify these species in a score or about thirty empirical groups of partial definition (majority being supposed monophyletic). Other orchidologists remain about it to define 6 to 12 sections (or sub-sections), including several of these groups sometimes. On the basis of the phylogenetic work most recent, only 6 to 8 sections could be objectively recognized.

Sectio Pseudophrys Godfery 1928, J. off Botany (London) 66: 36.

super-group of '' Ophrys fusca '' - '' O. lutea '': many cf " groupes" …
group of Ophrys will omegaifera

Sectio Ophrys L. (autonomous)

group of Ophrys will insectifera

Sectio Ciliatae P. Quentin 2005, in Bournérias and Prat 2005: 480.

group of Ophrys speculum

Sectio Bombyliflorae Reichenbach wire. 1851, Icon. Fl. Germ. : 95.

group of Ophrys will tenthredinifera pro leaves

Sectio Tenthrediniferae Quentin 1993, Cah. Plowshare france Orch. 1: 15.

group of Ophrys will tenthredinifera pro leaves

Sectio Apiferae Quentin 1993, Cah. Plowshare france Orch. 1: 15.

group of Ophrys will apifera

Sectio Fuciflorae Reichenbach wire. 1851, Icon. Fl. Germ. : 85.

group of Ophrys will fuciflora
group of Ophrys bornmuelleri
group of Ophrys heldreichii
group of Ophrys scolopax
(cf sectio Umbilicatae Quentin 1994…)
group of Ophrys umbilicata

Sectio Araniferae Reichenbach wire. 1851, Icon. Fl; Germ. : 88.
(cf sectio Reinholdiae Quentin 1993…)

group of Ophrys reinholdii
(cf sectio Argolicae Quentin 1993…)
group of Ophrys argolica
(cf sectio Mammosae Quentin 1993…)
groupe of Ophrys mammosa
group of Ophrys arachnitiformis
super-group of Ophrys sphegodes : cf 4 groups…
(cf sectio Bertoloniorum Quentin 1993…)
group of Ophrys bertolonii

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