The MEDIS dataset is an extensive geospatial database encompassing all Mediterranean islands larger than 0.01 km2, aiming to facilitate ecological, economic, environmental, and social research. This compilation, containing 2212 islands, provides detailed data on 38 variables including geographic, climatic, ecological, and land-use aspects.

Orchids play a key role in ecosystem functioning and offer critical insights into plant evolution, biogeography, ecological adaptation and conservation planning. Our data set is the first to produce a national orchid inventory, covering the entire Italian territory. We collected 71,693 records for 195 species of orchids occurring in Italy, number of records per species ranged from 1 (e.g., the endemic Ophrys gravinensis) to 3,163 (Dactylorhiza maculata), averaging 385±631 records per species. Out of the 195 species, 70 are endemic to Italy (36%), and 5 (2.6%) are listed within Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Nine species (4.6%) are classified as threatened (either VU or EN) by the IUCN European Red List, 11 as Near Threatened (5.6%), 3 as Data Deficient (1.5%), 76 as Least Concern (39.0%), and 95 not assessed (48.7%). Overall, orchid species showed on average 47.7± 24.0 % of records within protected areas, with 4 and 2 species featuring 100% and 0% within the network of protected areas, respectively. A total of 32 species showed <5 independent recent records. The main aim of the orchid data set was to make these occurrence data accessible for international researchers to develop ecological and macroecological studies, from local to regional scales, with focal IUCN listed species. We anticipate that the Italian orchid data set will be valuable for studies on a wide range of ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, fishery pressure, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, and the impacts of species invasion and climate change.