Orchis spitzelii
Orchis spitzelii W.D.J. Koch
Orchidaceae – Orchid family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iv)]. BDA, CITES(2).
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant with 2 ovoid tubers. Stems 20–40(50) cm, with 3–6 basal leaves. Inflorescence 10–25-flowered, cylindrical, dense. Sepals and petals oblong-ovate, green violet, lateral sepals patent, the rest form a hood. Labellum bent downwards, trilobed, pink-lilac, spotted. Spur conical, obtuse, about half as long as the ovary, pointed downwards. Fl. V(VI), fr. VI(VII). Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Forest glades, extensively used pastures, scrublands, usually on stony limestone soil, in open and semi-shady places. An extremely rare for Bulgaria species with only few reports. The only recent report is from Sinite Kamani Nature Park for a population with 7 plants.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Locally. Balkan Range (eastern – Slivenski Balkan; central – Zlatitsa where the locality needs confirmation), Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt), Rhodopi Mts (central – above Yavorovo village, Asenovgrad region); 700–1500 m alt.
General distribution. S and C Europe (Austria and Switzerland to the north), Asia Minor (Lebanon, Turkey), Algeria. A rare mountain species with a local distribution.
Threats. Local distribution and low densities of the populations. Presumed negative factors are afforestation with pines and grazing in the localities during the flowering and fruiting season.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the Biodiversity Act. The single recently reported locality is in Sinite Kamani Nature Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Search for new populations continued; protection of the known localities, including fencing; monitoring of the known populations and study of the negative factors.
References. Stojanov 1964; Stefanov 1973; Petrova 1995; Grozeva et al. 2004; Delforge 2006.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
