Gymnadenia-conopsea-ssp-conopsea_34

Description:

Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. conopsea (L.) R. Br.Fragrant Orchid, DE: Mcken Handwurz, Mcken Nacktdrse, Mcken-HandelwurzSlo.: navadni kukovinikDat.: July 05. 2014Lat.: 46.38304 Long.: 13.58260Code: Bot_808/2014_DSC1467Habitat: grass and isolated trees (dominant Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica) overgrown alluvial deposits of a river, calcareous ground, shallow ground water, flat terrain, open fairly sunny place, high air humidity, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C,elevation 540 m (1.770 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil. Place: Koritnica valley, right bank of river Koritnica, upstream of Monica settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Gymnadenia conopsea is with little doubt the most common wild orchid growing in upper Posoje. Many times it appears in large groups. One can find it almost in all habitats since it is ambivalent to ground humidity, acidity and type of ground. There is only one ground condition, which kills it - too much nitrogen in the ground, with other words too much fertilization particularly with nitrogen rich slurry. Taxonomically, several subspecies, varieties and forms have been described, but most of them are not generally accepted. For example, tall plants with dense inflorescence and many flowers (>40 according to some authors) in it are named as Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. densiflora, Gymnadenia conopsea var. densiflora or lately on species level Gymnadenia splendida. Subspecies montana, alpina, vernalis etc. are also described. To my field experience plants differ widely in size, shape as well as in color (from pink to almost purple). On one hand, difference in habitus of a small Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. conopsea, say, 30 cm tall with 20 flowers and a plant, which is supposed to be Gymnadenia splendida, which can be over 1 m tall having very dense inflorescence with over 100 flowers is undeniable. On the other hand, one can find also all possible intermediate forms, resembling much more a continuum of forms than two (or more) distinct appearances. Be it as it may, all are beautiful.Protected according to 'Uredba o zavarovanih prosto iveih rastlinskih vrstah', Ur.l.RS, t.46/2004 (Regulation on protected wild plants, Official gazette of Republic of Slovenia, No. 46/2004). Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "V" representing a vulnerable species.Ref.:(1) H. Haeupler, T. Muer, Bildatlas der Farn- und Bltenpflazen Deutschlands, Ulmer (2000), p 705.(2) H. Baumann, S. Kuenkele, R. Lorenz, Orchideen Europas, Ulmer (2006), p 104.(3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 2., Haupt (2004), p 1112.(4) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 1041.(5) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovene), p 773.