Neotinea ustulata

Although it is rather common in other parts of Northern Greece, it is very rare on Mt. Paggaio. It has been recorded in three places, near the peaks, and near Mesoropi village. Found in isolated individuals or small groups.

The size of its population on Mt. Paggaio is very small. It is a relatively small-sized species with elongated and pointed to broadly lanceolate leaves. The inflorescence is initially dense, short and egg-shaped, becoming lax at the base, nearly cylindrical, with of up to 80 small flowers. The sepals form a hood with the petals, pink to greenish, washed purple inside, purple to dark blackish-brown outside. The lip is deeply 3-lobed, white, sometimes washed pink, with a few papillose purple spots. The lateral lobes are oblong, sometimes falcate, with rounded tip, nearly spatulate, sometimes obliquely truncated. The median lobe is divided into two secondary lobes, similar to the lateral ones, although smaller, slightly divergent and separated by a small tooth. The spur is greenish to purplish, cylindrical and bent downwards. It was named after the blackish-brown color of the outer side of its flowers, hence their burnt look (latin: ustulatus). It prefers subalpine grasslands and openings of mountainous forests, whereas it can be rarely found in pine forests or low altitude areas. Although widespread in Europe, its populations have suffered serious declines. It is considered highly vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change. It flowers from April to July, depending on the altitude.

Due to its very small population size, any operation planned to be performed in its habitats will have devastating consequences. Specifically, collection of the species, construction and technical works would lead to its disappearance from Mt. Paggaio.

It is listed among the plant species of the Presidential Degree 67/81 (F.E.K. 23/Α/30-01-1981).

It is listed among the plant species of the Presidential Degree 67/81 (F.E.K. 23/Α/30-01-1981) “On the protection of native flora and fauna and defining a procedure for coordinating and controlling their research”, also as “Other Important Plant Species of Greece” by the 92/43/EEC Directive. Moreover, it is protected by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).