Bee orchid flower. Close-up of a flower of the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera). The flower has evolved to mimic a female bee and attract the male to land on the flower. In this way the pollen from the male part of the flower is spread between these European orchids, allowing them to reproduce. The orchids (Orchidaceae) are one of the most diverse families of flowering plants. There are over 20, 000 species worldwide, many of which are grown for ornamental purposes. Photographed in Plakias, Crete, Greece.