Observation of Dactylorhiza majalis at Ibones de Barbarisa

During a recent ascent to Pico and the Ibones de Barbarisa, we had the opportunity to observe several specimens of Dactylorhiza majalis, commonly known as the Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid. This robust terrestrial orchid is typical of aquatic and humid ecosystems found in mid- and high-altitude mountains. Its preferred habitat of wet meadows, stream banks, and peat bogs with moist, basic soils perfectly matches the environment encountered around these mountain lakes (ibones).

The observed plants were in good condition, exhibiting their distinctive broad leaves, characteristically marked with dark purple spots—a key morphological feature. The dense, cylindrical spikes of purple or dark red flowers were also noted, adding vibrant hues to the alpine landscape. These characteristics, combined with the habitat and the typical flowering period from May to July, confirmed our identification. This high-altitude sighting contributes to the understanding of its distribution in the Pyrenees, where it is known to be very present between 1,000 and 1,970 meters in altitude.