Epipactis-helleborine-ssp-orbicularis_6

Description:

Epipactis helleborine ssp. orbicularis (Richt.) Klein, syn.: Epipactis distans Arv.-Touv., Epipactis helleborine ssp. distans (Arv.-Touv.) Engel. & Quentin, Epipactis orbicularisShort-leaved Helleborine, DE: Kurtzblttrige StendelwurtzSlo.: kratkolistna movirnicaDat.: July 14. 2015 (in flowers)Lat.: 46.36067 Long.: 13.70130Code: Bot_904/2015_DSC7989Habitat: grassland, pasture, near mixed forest edge, under a canopy of standalone Ostrya carpinifolia, slightly southeast inclined terrain; colluvial, calcareous, skeletal ground, shallow soil layer; dry place, in half shade, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 -9 deg C, elevation 625 m (2.050 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soa and Trenta, right bank of river Soa, 'Na melu' place near Trenta 2b cottage, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC. Comment: Epipactis helleborine ssp. orbicularis is one of the members of Epipactis helleborine aggregate. By some authors it is treated on species level, others treat it on var. level. Flora Alpina (Ref.: 6) considers it as Epipactis distans and doesn't synonymize it to Epipactis helleborine ssp. orbicularis. This reference also considers its occurrence in Slovenia as questionable. Anyway, the easiest way to distinguish the plant from Epipactis helleborine s. str. (=Epipactis helleborine ssp. helleborine) is by its typical habitus and the arrangement and shape of its leaves. Epipactis helleborine ssp. orbicularis has stouter growth with thicker stem; the leaves are many, rounded and are not much longer than the length of internodia and more or less of equal length (except the lowest one and the upper most). The inflorescence is not one-sided as with Epipactis helleborine ssp. helleborine, but the flowers are arranged more or less uniformly radially (see Picture 7. taken vertically from the top of the inflorescence).Two plants have been photographed (one in flowering state and one when in seeds with the last uppermost flowers) in the vicinity of my home, which correspond well to the descriptions of subspecies orbicularis. The one on pictures no. 1. to 7. is typical, while the plants on pictures no 10. to 14. are somewhat less convincing (Ref.1.).Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Mr. Branko Dolinar (Leg.: A. Trnkoczy, Det.: B. Dolinar, A. Trnkoczy).(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovene), p 766. (3) H.Kretzschmar, Die Orchideen Deutschlands und angrenzenden Lander, Quelle Meyer (2008), p 127.(4) H.Baumann, S. Kuenkele, R.Lorenz, Orchideen Europas, Ulmer (2006), p 83.(5) B.Dolinar, Kukavievke v Sloveniji (Orchidaceae of Slovenia) (in Slovenian), Pipinova Knjiga (2015), p 63.(6) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 2., Haupt (2004), p 1100.