Orchid Census in Les Gavarres: Counting 90 Summer Lady's-tresses by the Stream

During a recent field outing in the Gavarres natural area, a massif renowned for its biodiversity, we recorded a notable population of Spiranthes aestivalis, commonly known as the Summer Lady's-tresses. A count at this specific point within a local stream (riera) revealed an impressive 90 specimens thriving, a significant finding given the species' precarious conservation status.

This slender orchid, characterized by its small white flowers arranged in a distinctive spiral around its stem, is a heliophilous species that strictly requires very humid environments such as peat bogs or spring margins—conditions precisely mirroring those found in the stream where it was observed. Spiranthes aestivalis is currently in severe global decline, considered extinct in several European countries and classified as 'Vulnerable' in Catalonia. Therefore, discovering such a healthy and numerous population underscores the ecological importance of this specific site and offers a hopeful note for the regional conservation of this valuable species.