Sighting of Dactylorhiza fuchsii on the Costa Pubilla Route

During a recent trek on the Costa Pubilla route, we had the opportunity to document several specimens of Dactylorhiza fuchsii, commonly known as the Common Spotted-orchid. This discovery was made in the vicinity of the Santuari de Montgrony, an area recognized for its botanical diversity.

We found quite a few individuals of this geophyte orchid thriving in humid and shady areas, a habitat that perfectly matches its ecological preferences for fresh mountain meadows and forest edges. D. fuchsii is distinguished by its broad basal leaves with characteristic elongated dark spots and a robust stem. A key identification feature is its deeply trilobed labellum, with the central lobe being narrow, pointed, and clearly protruding, which helps differentiate it from Dactylorhiza maculata. This species, typically flowering from May to July, also shows a preference for calcareous or basic soils. This observation highlights the floristic richness of the Montgrony area.