Gymnadenia rhellicani
In many books this is still called Nigritella nigra (Black Vanilla Orchid) but it is now known that there are slight but taxonomically significant differences between this and other species in this group. Gymnadenia rubra for instance also grows in the Alps but is a much lighter red and the individual petals when dissected out are different in each species.
G. rhellicani was named after the 16th century Swiss naturalist Johannes Müller who was from Rhelliken in Switzerland and was known as Müller Rhellicanus.
|
| Gymnadenia rhellicani |
Bernina alps above Pontresina, Engadine, Switzerland 5th July 2010
Added on 3rd July 2010