Epipactis microphylla (Ehrh.) Swartz

Spice Flower Flowers 2 Image 2 In the field

Family: ORCHIDACEAE

Genus: Epipactis

Catalan common name: Abella d'alzinar.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Oakforest. Holm oak forest and shady garriques.

Characteristics: This is an orchid typical to mountain holm-oak woods, in shady, moist places. It does not have the typical rosette of basal leaves of many orchids, but rather we find it as an erect stem with some small leaves on it, forming a spike of flowers at the top; the flowers may be slightly pendulous, never erect (like in the genus Cephalantera which also lives in holm-oak woods). The ovary of the flowers is covered in hair, this feature allows it to to be distinguished from Epipactis helleborine, which also lives in these woodlands, and which has a hairless ovary. It flowers practically in summer.