First described in 1753 from Sweden, N. cordata is another of the midgets of the European orchid world
but as can be seen from these pictures, what it lacks in stature, it more than makes up for in its subtle
and individual beauty. Neottia is a small genus which has recently incorporated the two European species that comprised the genus Listera and so together with N. nidus-avis this makes it a three species group
( in European terms ).
This is a very widespread little orchid which has a circumpolar distribution and which is common in the far
north, becoming rarer as it travels south. In Britain it's relatively frequent in Scotland where it may be
found in various habitats including beaches, sand dunes, wet moorland and pine forest. In England and
Wales it is a much rarer plant and occurs in just a few sites in South Wales and the WestCountry, most
notably Exmoor.
In the southern part of its range (N. Spain, S. France, N. Greece, N. Italy) it is very rare and strictly a mountain plant, growing predominently in pine forest on thick cushions of moss. Although vey localised, it
can form quite large colonies in its favoured sites, though its bronze colouration and diminutive stature
make it extremely difficult to spot. For this reason it is almost certainly an under recorded species.
The photograph's here were taken on the 26th of May and come from a more southerly part of its range
in the Vercors area of southern France. This isolated colony is to be found in the high mountains below the
Col de Menee and grows within spitting distance of other rarities such as C. calceolus, C. trifida and
O. spitzelii.
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