Gymnadenia densiflora

The genus Gymnadenia includes about 3 species ,of which only 13 are known to grow in Europe ,and the rest in theTemperate abd Arctic Zones of Asia and America. The presented species was not acknowledge until the begining of the 21 st century ;before that ,it was considered a subspecies of a smaller Gymnadenia orchid named G. conopsea .The Latin generic name refers to the finger -like shape of the plant's underground tubers .

G.densiflora is a robust and highly variable orchid reaching a height of up to 3.3 ft/ 1 m .It winters on two deeply forked tubers . The flower part of its stem gives rise to a few elongated lanceolate ,large , glossy leaves positioned close to each other ,while the upper part of the stem give rise to only small leaves resembling clinging scales .The inflorescence is dense and up to 12 in /30 cm long .It bears a high number of (up to 150 !) of fragrant ,pink, purple and red or rarely ,pure white minuscule flowers . Another constituent of the flower is a 0.8 in /2 cm long spur .

G. densiflora inhabits humid and damp meadows , marshlands and occasionally also light forests .It is known to grow in elevations up to 8,900ft /2,800 m. It blooms between may and August and its natural habitat includes regions in Europe ,Asia Minor ,Caucasia, Himalayas and China.