The Mediterranean species of orchids are all terrestrial unlike the flamboyant tropical species that grow in tree hollows, termed epiphytic.

Orchids have the smallest seeds of the flowering plant world, they are like dust but produced in great numbers. They differ from normal seeds in that they contain no food store or endosperm. Therefore the seed is more vulnerable to conditions into which it falls and suffers a high mortality rate. Complicating things further is that the seed must create a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizae, soil born fungi, in order to germinate. It is only with the assistance of this fungus that the seed can then build up nutrients to develop a root and create green leaves. It can take over 10 years for this relationship to develop from germination to allow enough strength for the orchid to produce a flower.

This symbiotic relationship could explain why there can be an orchid flowering one year which is not seen again for several more years. During its green leafy phase the orchid may feed itself and supply starches to the fungi. After flowering, when the root is depleted and the leaves shrivelled it is reliant on the fungi to replenish any nutrients needed to produce leaves for another season.

Orchids are pollinated by insects and many of the Ophrys species flowers have developed to attract a specific insect even replicating the shape and pheromones of a female to lure a male. Meanwhile the Orchis species look invitingly like nectar rich mint family of flowers but do not offer any food rewards to their pollinators.