Herminium monorchis
Herminium monorchis (L.) R. Br.
Orchidaceae – Orchid family
Conservation status. Regionally extinct [RE]. BDA, CITES(2).
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant with an oval tuber. Stems 10–25 cm, with 2(3) basal lanceolate leaves. Inflorescences narrowly cylindrical. Flowers yellow green, honey scented; sepals 2.5–3 × 1–1.5 mm, petals 3.2–3.9 mm, pointed forwards; labellum trilobed. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means, producing several new tubers on long runners.
Habitats and populations. Mesophilous and hygro-mesophilous meadows, fenlands, more often on alkaline soils. In the locality near Troyan town inhabited a community dominated by Agrostis capillaris and different Trifolium species. Lastly observed in 1940 by N. Stojanov, who wrote: “very rare, ... near extinction”.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central – in the area of Ganovtsi village, near Troyan town) and Rhodopi Mts (central – the area of Byala Cherkva, recorded in 1904); up to 1500 m alt.
General distribution. Temperature zone of Europe and Asia, rare in the northern and southern areas.
Threats. Limited distribution and small population sizes. The use of synthetic nutrients in the meadows during the period of cooperative farming probably caused extinction of the species in Troyan area.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act.
Conservation measures needed. Undertaking systematic surveys in the regions where the species occurred in the past.
Notes. 1. Urumov (1929) reported the species for the area of Kupena peak in Karlovoski Balkan, but there are doubts that this report was not based on personal observations (Stanev 1975). 2. Survey in Troyan area included the locality described by Stojanov (Ganchev et al. 1964). There are well preserved appropriate habitats in the area of Byala Cherkva where the species could have survived.
References. Urumov 1929; Baev 1947; Stefanov 1951; Ganchev et al. 1964; Stojanov 1964; Stanev 1975b; Delforge 2006.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
