The world’s largest collection of a rare orchid has been discovered growing along the runways of a military airbase in Corsica. The estimated number of Neglected Serapias, or Devil’s Tongue, is 155,000.
The protected species of orchid blossomed around the base after taking advantage of its secure location and gardening protocols, according to a new study.
The orchids are only found in the South of France, Italy, and along the east coast of the Adriatic, but over time their numbers have begun to decline. They are now classified as “near threatened” in the World and European Red Lists of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, these rare flowers appear to have found a perfect place to grow, away from the three million people who visit the Mediterranean island every year.
