Gymnadenia gabasiana

The Gymnadenia gabasiana, is a perennial, herbaceous, tuberous geophyte orchid. This species (formerly Nigritella gabasiana) is endemic to the Pyrenean-Cantabrian mountain range. It is a diploid species (2n=40) that reproduces sexually (allogamy).

Morphological description: The plant is small, with a height ranging from 6 to 23 cm (up to 35 cm). It features numerous linear-lanceolate leaves in a basal rosette. The inflorescence is a dense spike, changing from conical to ovoid, with flowers colored dark red to purplish-red. Its key feature is the labellum (lip), which measures up to 9 mm long and has the basal third strongly constricted, with the margins almost overlapping. The spur is very short and slender (less than 1.5 mm).

Habitat and distribution: It is native to subalpine environments, growing in sunny mountain pastures and at the foot of cliffs. It is found in both acidic and basic (calcareous) soils, generally between 1200 and 2550 meters in altitude. Its distribution includes the Pyrenees (France and Catalonia, such as Ripollès and Baixa Cerdanya) and the Cantabrian Mountains.

Life cycle and conservation: It flowers during the summer, mainly from June to August. The specific epithet gabasiana comes from Gabas, a village in the Atlantic Pyrenees (France). It is a protected species in several regions, classified as "preferential attention" in Castilla y León.