Family: orchids (Orchidaceae)
Flowering period: June–July
Size: 20–60 cm
Habitat: sunny dry meadows, open woodlands and shrub slopes
The dense inflorescence of the pyramid orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) consisting of numerous crimson-red to pink flowers is initially pyramid-shaped, later oval in development. The flower has at the base of the honey-coloured lip two conspicuous calli that surround the entrance to the long, narrow spur. Most of the linear leaves form a prostrate rosette. It thrives in sunny locations on dry, barren soils. In suitable habitats, in some parts of Slovenia it is more common, elsewhere rarer. Like all species in the Orchidaceae family that occur in Slovenia, the pyramid orchid is protected here. It is listed on the Red List of endangered plants as a vulnerable species.
It is mainly threatened by the abandonment of traditional farming practices, as abandoning mowing leads to the encroachment of its habitat and the disappearance of this species. Soil fertilization also has a detrimental effect on this and other orchids.
