Image of Epipactis helleborine subsp. orbicularis (K. Richt.) E. Klein

Description:

Slo.: kratkolistna movirnica - syn.: Epipactis distans Arv.-Touv., Epipactis helleborine ssp. distans (Arv.-Touv.) Engel. & Quentin, Epipactis orbicularis - Habitat: Growing on a narrow strip of light, mixed wood between a road and river bed, among other tall herbs, semiruderal place, flat terrain; alluvial, calcareous, skeletal ground; humid place in half shade, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 - 9 deg C, elevation 550 m (1.805 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: soil. - 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.