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| Online Flora of the Maltese Islands by Stephen Mifsud |
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Ophrys bombyliflora (Bumble-Bee Orchid) |
Ophrys bombyliflora (ORCHIDACEAE.)
Images for this profile are taken from the Maltese Islands after year 2000.
Website launch: Oct-2002
Taxonomic update: Aug-2026
Code update: Jul-2026 |
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| Nomenclature and General Information |
Species name : |
Ophrys bombylifloraLink
Published in Jour. für die Bot. 1799(2): 325 (1800) |
Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.) |
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Plant Family : |
Orchidaceae Juss. (The Orchid Family)
41 species from the Orchidaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands. | English name(s) : | Bumble-Bee Orchid |
Maltese name(s) : |
Brimba griża |
Status for Malta : |
Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man |
Frequency : |
Very Common Common Frequent Scarce Rare Very rare Extinct |
Growth form : |
Germination type [info]: Monocotyledon
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: Geophyte ( perennials bearing underground bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, stolons, etc. ) |
Legal Protection : |
Not legally protected till the last update of this website (22/Aug/2025) |
Red List (1989) : |
Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands |
Flowering Time : |
March |
Colour of Flowers: |
Brown or Dark |
Toxicity: |
Not particularly toxic |
Name Derivation : |
Ophrys: Eyebrow, referring to the brown, furry edges found in the flowering lips of several. (Latin origin)
bombyliflora: Shape of a bumblebee, with reference of the semi-spherical, winged and hairy flower of this species. (Greek origin)
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Planting in rural areas : |
Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines |
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Description, Habitat and Distribution | |
Botanical Description |
Plant 7-25 cm. Basal leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute, patent, the cauline erect, slightly sheathing. Spike 1- to 5-flowered, lax. Outer perianth-segments 9-12 mm, ovate, obtuse, green, sometimes whitish, concave, the lateral patent or deflexed; inner c. 1/3 as long as the outer, triangular, purplish at base, greenish towards apex, velutinous. Labellum 8(-10) mm, deeply 3-lobed, the lobes gibbous, deflexed so that the labellum appears globose-inflated, brown or dark brown, partly papillose, partly glabrous, without an appendage; lateral lobes oblong, convex, villous, glabrous towards apex, with externally hairy basal protuberances; middle lobe transversely ovate or oblong; speculum scutelliform or 2-partite, bluish-violet, with paler margin. Connective obtuse. | |
Habitat in Europe |
Grassland, garigue, rocky scrub; calcicole.
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Preferred habitat in Malta |
Garigue, open maquis, steppe with grasses, usually in exposed rocky areas
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Chromosome number(s) |
2n=36 | |
Distributional range |
Mediterranean region, C. & S. Portugal.
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Distributional maps from various sources |
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Occurrences in Europe
(from Flora Europaea till 1993) |
Doubtful inAlbania, the Balaeric Islands, Corse, Crete, France (incl. Monaco and Channel Islands but excluding Corse), Greece, Spain (incl. Andorra but excl. the Balaerics), Italy (mainland, excl. Sicily and Sardinia), ex-Jugoslavia, Portugal, Sardinia, Sicily and/or Malta
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Occurrences in Europe
(from Euro+Med Checklist till 2024)
Country codes
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AE(G) Ag Al Bl Ca Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Ju Li Lu Ma Sa Si Tn Tu(A E)
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| Links & Further literature
(4 papers) |
Google Web |
Google Images |
Google Scholar |
Research Gate |
Wikipedia |
JSTOR |
GBIF |
Med Checklist |
Cat. of Life |
EoL |
IPNI |
World Flora Online |
Plants of the World Online |
Vienna Virt. Herb. |
RBGE Herbarium |
KEW Herbarium |
MNHN |
Garden Database |
IUCN |
TROPICOS | |
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Sales and Donations
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Sales of seeds of wild plant from Malta: Seeds of selected wild plant species may be available for academic studies, research purposes, or personal use. Please note that not all species can be supplied or exported. Availability is subject to seasonal seed production, stock levels, and applicable regulations, including Maltese legislation and CITES requirements where relevant. Protected and endemic species cannot be sold (at least without the relevant environmental permits).
How it works: First, submit a quotation request by completing the Online Quotation Form (link provided on the right side of this table). Once your request has been reviewed, you will receive confirmation regarding seed availability, export eligibility (where applicable), pricing, and any transport charges. Payments are accepted by Revolut, bank transfer (IBAN), or PayPal only; credit and debit card payments are not accepted.
Please note that local orders are currently not being accepted. Seek Maltese nurseries and NGOs for local orders.
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Online Quotation (Seeds)
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Atlas Flora Europaea
GBIF Distribution Map
WFO Distribution map
