I found an orchid that I’d not seen before earlier this week – an Autumn Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes Spiralis). It’s a short orchid (around 15 cm) with tiny flowers (only around 6mm) that spiral around the stem in a very attractive way.

Autumn Lady’s Tresses – Spiranthes Spiralis

It’s not in my Pyrenees flower books so took a bit of research to find out what it was. It likes calcareous soil and I think a more mediterranean climate than we get in most of the Pyrenees.

I found it in the Garganta de Escuain near the Miradores of Revilla which is all limestone. It’s quite low and in a sunny south facing spot and there are quite a few more mediterranean plants found there.

Close up of the tiny flowers

Not the biggest or most showy orchid I’ve seen but very pretty in a delicate way and always nice to find something I’ve not seen before.