European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

Anacamptis coriophora is very local and often rare where it occurs however it is widespread occurring from Spain to Russia in Europe. The existing threats are unlikely to cause the populations to decline very quickly in the near future and therefore, Anacamptis coriophora is assessed as Least Concern. However, the species is more threatened in the northern part of its range and has gone extinct in a few countries. Local conservation measures are therefore urgently needed.

Anacamptis coriophora is a central and southern European species, extending its range into western Asia (The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2010). It is Regionally Extinct in the Czech Republic, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Anacamptis coriophora is very local and often rare where it occurs. The overall population size is unknown but has a declining trend (Bournérias and Prat 2005, Delforge 1995, Kretzschmar et al. 2007).

Anacamptis coriophora typically occurs in grassy places derived from ‘molinaies’:  boggy meadows and moorland, flushed slopes and woodland edges prone to flooding. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil often clayey-calcareous substrates in full sunlight. This species is found from sea level to 2,500 m altitude. The flowering time is from April to July (Bournérias and Prat 2005, Delforge 1995, Kretzschmar et al. 2007).

Main threats to this species are posed by habitat conversion such as canalisation, flood prevention measures, building programmes and urban expansion. Further threats are extensive drainage, agricultural use of the habitat including the application of fertilisers, and plant collection (Bournérias et al. 2005, Delforge 1995, Kretzschmar et al. 2007).

The bulb is very nutritious when cooked. It is a source of 'salep', a fine white to yellowish-white powder that is obtained by drying the tuber and grinding it into a powder. Salep is a starch-like substance which can be made into a drink, added to cereals or to bread. It can be prepared in the same way as arrowroot. A jelly can be made from the salep which is used to treat irritations of the gastro-intestinal canal (Plants For a Future 2010).

All orchid species are included under Annex B of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The species is protected at national level in Belgium, France and Luxembourg. It is included in the following national red lists:

• Regionally Extinct in Czech Republic (Holub and Procházka 2000), Estonia (Lilleleht 2008), Luxembourg (Colling 2005) and the Netherlands (Meijden 2000) under the synonym Orchis coriophora
• Critically Endangered (level 1) in Germany (Ludwig and Schnittler 1996)
• Endangered in Belarus (Ermakova 2005) and Switzerland (Moser et al. 2002)
• Vulnerable in Croatia (Nikolić and Topić 2005) and France (UICN et al. 2010)
• Near Threatened in Hungary (Király 2007)

The following actions are recommended to protect Anacamptis coriophora (Bournérias et al. 2005, Delforge 1995, Kretzschmar et al. 2007);

• Water regime must be ensured, drainage of meadows should be avoided, and provision of small dams may be necessary to avoid drying of the site in spring.
• Protection of the living individuals through legislation that bans the species from being picked or dug up.
• Ex situ conservation: Artificial propagation, re-introduction, seed collections.
• Monitoring and surveillance of the existing populations and sites.
• Estimate the population size and study their dynamics.