Flowers Gallery

Bee Orchid, Ophrys apifera

Bee Orchid, Ophrys apifera - close up of flowerhead showing hanging pollinia, Monkton Chalkpit Nature Reserve, Kent
flower shape and colour thought to mimic shape and colour of the solitary bee to attract this pollinator but mostly
self pollinating in UK, perennial, favours dry grassland, usually on chalky soils, Pollenia held above flower with packets of pollen, drop down to pollinate stigma of own flower

Meadow Clary, Salvia pratensis

Meadow Clary (Salvia pratensis) - Queendown Warren, Kent Wildlife Trust, Rare Family Labiatae, downland, distributed in Southern England, perennial, bilabiate, sage, classified as Near Threatened and protected by Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, violet blue, wild flower
Tubular flower, spike stamen and stigma style specialised pollination, insect sqeezes into tube and the anthers drop down on back leaving packet of pollen

Ribwort, Plantago alnceolata

Ribwort (Plantago lanceolata) - close up of flower head, Andalusia Family Plantaginaceae, common plantain, perennial, wind pollinated, also known as fighters, soldiers, hard heads, fire-weed, great variety of habitats, including meadows, pastures, upland grasslands, roadsides and river banks, sand dunes, cliffs, waste ground, on cultivated land, lawns and on walls, weed