The Regional Directorate for the Environment confirmed this week the discovery of the rarest orchid in Europe (Platanthera azorica) on Faial Island, which was until now only known on São Jorge.
 
The orchid was initially identified by a tourist, who warned of the possibility for the existence of this rare orchid in the Natural Reserve of Caldeira do Faial. A technical team of Faial Botanical Garden was deployed to the site to confirm its presence in that protected area.
 
A specimen was found in the flowering stage. It is possible that there are other specimens in less accessible places or even some that, without being in flowering, were not identified.
 
"Platanthera azorica" was rediscovered in 2013 in the central mountain range of São Jorge and, since then, it was thought to have only existed on the island, with a small population limited to the area of Pico da Esperança.
 
Besides the efforts to identify more specimens on the island of Faial, the Regional Directorate for the Environment will promote fieldwork to rule out the eventual occurrence of the species on other islands of the Central Group.
 
In the Azores, there are three species of endemic orchids, all belonging to the botanical genus "Platanthera" (fringed orchids), namely "Platanthera azorica," "Platanthera micrantha" and "Platanthera pollostantha."