Cypripedium calceolus
Cypripedium calceolus L.
Orchidaceae – Orchid family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(v)c+2ab(v); C1+2a(i,ii); D]. BDA, HD(IIb), BC, CITES(2). Relict.
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant with a creeping rhizome. Stems up to 50 cm. Leaves 3–5, elliptical to oval, pointed. Flowers 1, rarely 2, sepals and petals lanceolate, purple brown, labellum shoe-shaped, yellow, with red dots at the base. Gynostegium with 2 lateral stamens. Fl. V–VI, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, rarely by vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Coniferous, mixed and deciduous forests, scrublands and forest glades, more often on alkaline soils. In Bulgaria mainly in mixed forests. The population on the slopes of Chervenata Stena peak, which has been regularly observed since 1990, has critically low numbers – less than 25 plants, growing at significant distances from each other. The percentage of the flowering and fruiting individuals has been very low.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (central – Dobrostan massif; single collection from Narechen town area); up to 1400 m alt.
General distribution. Circumboreal – boreal and temperature zones of Eurasia and N America.
Threats. Global climatic changes, especially drying; forest fires; low number of individuals and density of the population; in the past trampling of the habitat because of pine’s resin harvesting and flowers collecting.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species, whose habitats needs a priority conservation measure according to the Biodiversity Act. The single known population falls in Chervenata Stena Strict Nature Reserve and its buffer zone, and is within a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Continuing the monitoring of the population; detailed surveys in the region for new individuals; making forest clearings in the region of the population in the buffer zone of the reserve; ex situ propagation from seeds from the locality and subsequent strengthening of the population.
References. Stojanoff & Stefanoff 1924; Stoyanov 1934, 1964; Stanev 1975; Petrova 1995; Terschuren 1998.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
