Epipactis tremolsii

The Epipactis tremolsii, commonly known as the Trèmols' Helleborine, is an orchid named after the Catalan botanist F. Trèmols i Borrell. It is a taxon often considered a subspecies of E. helleborine, but it is distinguished by its earlier flowering and adaptation to drier habitats.

Morphological Description: It is a robust plant (20-60 cm) with solitary stems, often tinged with purple. Its most distinctive feature is the leaves, which are wide, leathery (coriaceous), and have wavy margins, clustered at the base of the stem. The inflorescence is a long, dense cluster with large, bell-shaped flowers. The labellum is divided into the nectary hypochile and the cordiform (heart-shaped) epichile, which is intensely pinkish or reddish, with characteristic rugosities.

Habitat and Distribution: It grows in nemoral (forest) environments in partial shade, mainly in holm oak, cork oak, deciduous oak, and pine forests. It is soil indifferent (tolerating both acidic and calcareous substrates) and is found between 400 and 1,700 meters. It flowers early (April-June). It is distributed across the Western Mediterranean, including the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Sardinia, Corsica, and the Maghreb. In Catalonia and the provinces of Valencia and Castellón, it is present in various areas.

Conservation Status: It is not listed in the Catalonia Threatened Flora Catalogue (2023), suggesting that it is currently not considered a species requiring specific legal protection in this territory, being relatively common throughout its distribution range.