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Glite Dictionary
Ophrys insectifera

Ophrys insectifera

9.9
A European orchid with flowers that look like female flies to attract insects
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Ophrys insectifera
  • The Ophrys insectifera attracts pollinators by mimicking the appearance of female flies.

Examples

  • We saw several Ophrys insectifera growing wild in the damp meadows of southern England.

  • Botanists are fascinated by the unique pollination strategy of Ophrys insectifera.

  • The Ophrys insectifera is known for its unique appearance.

  • Many gardeners admire the Ophrys insectifera for its beauty.

  • The Ophrys insectifera uses its flower's shape and color to attract male flies for pollination.

  • In the spring, the Ophrys insectifera blooms in fields, resembling flies to entice pollinators.

  • Researchers study how the Ophrys insectifera mimics insects to improve its chances of reproduction.

Synonyms

fly orchid
vsOphrys insectifera
  • UK
9.8

A small plant in Europe with flowers that look like flies

is the scientific name for the same species
Ophrys muscifera
vsOphrys insectifera
  • Specialized
9.9

A European orchid with flowers that look like flies

is the exact species named in the description rather than a related one

Surface Forms

Ophrys insectifera singular
Ophrys insectiferas plural

Morphology

Ophrys + insectifera

This is a Latin binomial: 'Ophrys' is a genus name (an orchid) and 'insectifera' clearly contains the English-looking stem 'insect', so a learner who knows the constituents can infer an insect-related orchid. However, the Latin suffix '-fera' (bearing/producing) and taxonomic naming conventions are not obvious to an average B1 learner and 'insectifera' was not found in the dictionary, so the relation is only partially recoverable.

Etymology

Ophrys insectifera gets its name from the flower's odd look: the part insectifera points to its 'insect-like' shape, because the petals often resemble female flies. Male flies try to mate with the flowers and so carry pollen to other plants, so this image explains why the orchid attracts insects to make new plants.