Nigritella rhellicani

This orchid is easily recognised by the purplish-black colour of its inflorescence and the intense vanilla scent it gives off; it is widespread in the Alps but rarely found in the northern Apennines. It grows in alpine and subalpine grasslands at altitudes of between 1,000 and 2,800 metres. It is a nationally protected species.

Like all orchids in our latitudes, Nigritella also has a swollen underground stem (tuber) that acts as a storage organ; it is digitate in shape, resembling a small hand. The dense inflorescence is initially conical and later oval, composed of small blackish-red flowers. The leaves are almost all basal, linear and lanceolate. 

In the past, mountain communities would gather its intensely fragrant, sweet-smelling flowers to prepare infusions which they believed to be aphrodisiacs.