Neotinea ustulata Sighting on the Costa Pubilla Trail

During a recent botanical observation hike along the Costa Pubilla trail, we had the pleasure of encountering a specimen of the Burnt orchid, the common name for Neotinea ustulata. This small terrestrial orchid is known as a deceptive species, as it does not offer nectar to its pollinators.

The single individual documented was in a quite advanced stage of flowering. This meant that, while it still bore the distinctive dark tip at the top of its inflorescence — the characteristic that lends it its "burnt" epithet — the lower flowers were already well open, prominently displaying their white, trilobate labellum with its crimson red spots. Its inflorescence appeared looser than it would be at its peak. The find occurred in an environment consistent with its preferences, typically open, well-lit mountain meadows. This observation contributes to the local distribution knowledge of this intriguing species.