Flowers of the Alps

Black Vanilla Orchid

Nigritella Nigra or Schwarzes Kohlröschen

Photo taken at Obergurgl (1800m), Ôtztal by Allan Hartley

A relative of the orchid family growing up to 150mm tall, it is characterised by its dark red flower that gives off a strong smell of vanilla. It thrives on moist sunny slopes, at low altitude in Scandinavia but from 1000 - 2800m further south. Nigritella is deciduous, surviving the winter through corms. Long lanceolate green leaves grow at the bottom of the stem with some small leaves at the stop of the stem. Endangered and fully protected.

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