Dactylorhiza kalopissii
Dactylorhiza kalopissii E. Nelson
Orchidaceae – Orchid family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. IUCN(R), BDA, HD(IIb), CITES(2). Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant with 2 slightly digitate tubers. Stems 20–60 cm high, leaves 4–9, lanceolate, green, without spots. Inflorescence with 20–30(45) flowers, dense, cylindrical. Flowers pink to pale lilac. Dorsal sepal and lateral petals form a hood, lateral sepals lax, pointed upwards. Labellum obscurely trilobed, flat, marked with fine spots, arranged in rows. Spur narrow conical, 8–12 mm long. Fruit is a pot. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Wet meadows and fenlands with damp to marshy soils in the lowlands and low mountain belt. Until recently only one population was known in Bulgaria, with area less than 0.1 ha and 60–150 flowering plants in particular years. Three more populations were discovered in 2008, one of them numbers about 100 individuals, the other two have less than 50 individuals each.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Eastern – Slivenski Balkan), Stedna Gora Mts (Western – Lozenska Mt), Rhodopi Mts (Central – Dobrostan massif, above Gornoslav village), Tundzha Hilly Country (near Gabarevo village).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, Greece, R Macedonia).
Threats. Limited distribution; in Dobrostan – grazing by domestic stock (cows) during the vegetation season; serious potential threat is the change of the hydrological conditions in the localities.
Conservation measures taken. Legally protected species. For protection of its habitats the Biological Diversity Act requires establishment of protected areas in accordance with the regulations of the Protected Areas Act. Included in 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. Some localities are in Sinite Kamani Natural Park and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Declaring all the species localities protected areas; elaboration of an action plan; surveys in appropriate habitats in SW and Central Bulgaria for new localities.
References. Willing & Willing 1988; Lindig & Lindig 1991; Walter & Gillet 1998; Delforge 2006, Pedashenko 2010; Petrova & al. 2009.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
