Abundant Pyramidal Orchids in Various Growth Stages in Empordà

After lunch, we proceeded to a location in the Baix Empordà region that was already familiar to me. This area, characterized by its open, sunny meadows with a clear preference for calcareous soils, provides an ideal habitat for various orchid species, including Anacamptis pyramidalis.

On this occasion, our observation focused on Anacamptis pyramidalis, commonly known as the Pyramidal Orchid. The population we encountered was quite abundant, a fact that highlights the suitability of the habitat. What was particularly striking was the presence of specimens in various growth phases. We observed everything from basal rosettes with lanceolate leaves, to incipient spikes just beginning to form their characteristic conical or pyramidal shape, through to fully developed flowers ranging from pale pink to intense purple. The species' vitality was evident. Distinctive features such as its trilobed labellum and the long, thread-like spur were visible in the more mature specimens.

This observation in Baix Empordà, during its typical flowering period (May-July), enhances our understanding of the distribution and adaptation of this species to the open and sunny areas of this part of Catalonia.