This fascinating plant seems to extract a gasp of surprise when found. Maybe that’s due to its rarity, maybe to its strange appearance.

In its dolomitic range it is in flower for only two weeks, and at that altitude that seems to fall at the end of June. We discovered other specimens which were shrivelled, having finished flowering.

It is pollinated by many things, including ants, wasps, bees, flies and beetles, moths and butterflies. The yellow lip, or slipper, is inflated and slippery meaning that visitors are forced to use the ridges to climb out. On their way they will pass the anther and may transfer the pollen onto the plants stigma, helping it to reproduce.

They grow well in shade, usually in woodlands on calcareous soils and die back to a rhizome over winter.

And whilst we’re at it, here’s some other species that are marvellous in maroon, or pretty in pink!