Observation of Himantoglossum hircinum in Garrotxa, Catalonia

Following a morning exploration in Osona, the day continued with a journey to a specific location in Garrotxa, with the aim of finding Himantoglossum hircinum. We had the opportunity to locate several specimens of this geophyte orchid, commonly known as the Lizard Orchid, with their first flowers just beginning to unfurl. This observation marks my first personal record of the species in Catalonia.

H. hircinum is a robust, large-sized orchid characterized by its dense inflorescence and the strong, unpleasant odor it emits, resembling goat or buck, from which its specific epithet hircinum is derived. Its most distinctive feature is the excessively long and trilobed labellum, with the central lobe unfurling like a very long, ribbon-like strip (serpentine) ending in a fork, typically colored olive or pinkish-brown. The sepals and petals, meanwhile, form an almond-green helmet with reddish-violet veins inside. This species prefers alkaline soils and full sun, thriving in meadows, grassy slopes, and road margins—conditions that would have been present at the discovery site. In Catalonia, it is considered a rare species, and its presence serves as a reminder of the region's rich floral diversity.