This is an uncommon orchid of the European mountains which will rarely thrive at anything less than 1000 metre's above sea level and will often be found growing in the company of other Alpine specialists such as
the various vanilla orchid species. At its lower elevations it frequently keeps the company of C. calceolus
though unlike this species, it seldom ventures far from a full sun position.
Traunsteinera is an isolated genera and molecular study has failed to link it very closely with any other
apart from a very loose connection to fellow mountain dweller Chamorchis. Globosa refers to the spherical shape of the full grown inflorescence though in its early stages it has a very triangular appearance with the look of an overgrown and spindly O. tridentata.
The species was first described in 1759 and historically has been variously grouped with both Orchis
and Nigretella. At present the genera contains just two species, its close cousin being the much
rarer T. sphaerica which differs little apart from its cream colouration and much more restricted range
(Anaatolia).
As has already been mentioned this is a mountain orchid with a widespread distribution from Spain through
to Russia, it is however local and quite rare. Interestingly it has never been found to hybridize with any
other species.
The pictures here are all from either the Vercors or Ecrins National Park's in southern France. The
younger plants date from early June and the mature specimens late July.
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