Burnt Orchid
Neotinea ustulata
Neotinea ustulata, the burnt orchid or burnt-tip orchid, is a European terrestrial orchid native to mountains in central and southern Europe, growing at up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft) elevation. The plant is considered Endangered in Great Britain and Least Concern internationally based on IUCN Red List criteria.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neotinea_ustulata
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Family
Orchidaceae
Genus
Neotinea
Burnt Orchid belongs to the family Orchidaceae, order Asparagales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Neotinea ustulata, the burnt orchid or burnt-tip orchid, is a European terrestrial orchid native to mountains in central and southern Europe, growing at up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft) elevation. The plant is considered Endangered in Great Britain and Least Concern internationally based on IUCN Red List criteria. The burnt-tip orchid was voted the county flower of Wiltshire in 2002 following a poll by the wild flora conservation charity Plantlife.
The Burnt Orchid faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional land management practices have eliminated or fragmented the calcareous grasslands this species requires. Climate change and reduced grazing pressure further threaten the delicate ecological balance needed for this orchid's survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Neotinea ustulata is distributed throughout central and south Europe, with its main populations in Spain and Greece in the south, reaching England and southern Sweden in the north, and reaching as far east as the Caucasus and Ural mountains. It grows as high as elevation in the Carpathian mountains and the Alps. It typically grows on chalky subsoil (occasionally acidic soils) in grassland; fens...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Burnt Orchid faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional land management practices have eliminated or fragmented the calcareous grasslands this species requires. Climate change and reduced grazing pressure further threaten the delicate ecological balance needed for this orchid's survival.
Agricultural intensification
Changes in grazing management
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Climate change impacts
Urban development and infrastructure
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Burnt Orchid (Neotinea ustulata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/burnt-orchid