Fragrant Orchid

Description:

Gymnadenia conopsea reaches on average 20–60 cm tall. The inflorescence is 5–25 cm. The flowers are gathered in dense cylindrical spikes (up to 50 flowers per spike). These inflorescences are scented and genes underlying eugenol (a volatile scent compound), hence the name. Their light scent is similar to cloves. The flowers are white and pink to pink-purple, more rarely white (the white one is the alba variety, which I post next).

Habitat:

Pltivice Lakes (Plitvicka-Jezera National Park), Croatia (end of May, 2016).