Chamorchis alpina

This alpine orchid earned its name by its tiny proportions (the Greek word ''chamai'' means ''on the ground,low''). It is the only representative of its genus. It occupies a special place in the taxonamy of terrestrial orchids:it is strictly endemic to Europe . As it is able to create additional daughter bulbs and short shoots ,it produces vegetatively and oftern grows in clusters . Some 4-10 almost lineated -to -grass like leaves are arranged in a rosette near the ground ;the center of the rosette puts forth a 2-6 in/5-15 long flower spike . Between 0.8 -2 in /2-12 minuscule flowers are arranged in a 2-5 cm long inflorescence . The yellow and green lip is undivided and has a blunt tip.C. alpina blooms between July and August .It grows on stony or rocky infertile meadows and other similarly exposed alpine locations of the highest European mountains ,where the species ''climbs'' to the altitudes of 8,900 ft /2,700 m above sea level. Besides the Alps and the Carpathians ,it is known to grow in Scandinavia.