Aiolilla

Aiolilla is a small, monotypic genus of terrestrial orchids in the family Orchidaceae. The sole species, Aiolilla lucida, was first described in 1984 by French botanist Jean‑Claude Morin from specimens collected in the coastal melaleuca scrub of southern Morocco. The generic name derives from the Greek word aiolos, meaning “gentle wind,” reflecting the plant’s delicate, fluttering flowers that are loosely cormose and can be found in windswept dune fields.

A. lucida grows to 15–30 cm tall and produces a single linear leaf and a raceme of up to six brilliant white to pale yellow flowers with faint maroon veins. The petals are lanceolate, while the lip is trilobed and bears a faint central callus. The plant relies on nocturnal moths for pollination, and its fruit is a small, dehiscent capsule containing numerous reddish seeds.

The species is endemic to the western edge of the Rif Mountains, occurring mainly in calcareous sandy soils at elevations of 200–500 m. Its preferred habitat is scrubby, open areas that are subject to periodic fire. Due to its restricted range, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified Aiolilla lucida as Near Threatened, citing habitat loss from agricultural expansion and overgrazing. Conservation efforts include habitat restoration and the establishment of a protected area around the type locality in 2012.

Research on Aiolilla lucida has contributed to knowledge of orchid biogeography in the Mediterranean basin. Two molecular phylogenetic studies (2008 and 2016) placed the genus within the subtribe Orchidinae, highlighting a close evolutionary relationship with the genera Dactylorhiza and Orchis. Further studies are needed to clarify its reproductive biology and genetic diversity across its small range.