Several Red Helleborine Specimens in Good Condition in the Gironès County

During a recent botanical exploration in the Gironès region, initially focused on searching for species of the genus Epipactis, we had the pleasure of documenting several specimens of Cephalanthera rubra, commonly known as the Red Helleborine.

The observed individuals were in good overall condition, flowering in an environment consistent with their ecological preferences. This terrestrial and perennial orchid is notable for its showy and elegant pink flowers, which can range from pale pink to dark purple, and typically flower between May and August. C. rubra prefers forests in shaded or semi-shaded areas, such as beech or oak forests, with a clear preference for calcareous soils. This discovery in Gironès contributes to the understanding of its local distribution, underscoring the importance of preserving its forest habitats.