Cephalanthera epipactoides

Pictures of Cephalanthera epipactoides

(Click on the pictures to see them in larger size)

Common name

Scientific name

Cephalanthera epipactoides Fischer & C. A. Meyer.

Conservation status and threats

PROTECTED species in Bulgaria.

The species is listed in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria to the category "Critically Endangered"^[1].

Description and identification

Rhizomatous perennial. Stems 1–3 (10), up to 35 (45) cm high. Leaves 1–5, wide-lanceolate, 2–5 cm long. Inflorescences with 10–30 (50) flowers, up to 2/3 of the stem’s length. Flowers white, semi-open, spurred. Fruit a pod. Flowering May (June), fr. VII. Despite the fact that Cephalanthera epipactoides has green leaves, its behaviour is like that of saprophytic orchids, in that only flowering individuals are developed each year. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, rarely by vegetative means^[2].

Habitat

Grows in semi-shady places in broad-leaved and juniper scrublands, low-growing deciduous forests and woodland clearings. The population in Likana locality shows significant fluctuations – 100 to 500 individuals developed in different years^[3].

Distribution in Bulgaria

Rhodopi (eastern – Likana locality, south of Ivailovgrad town; once collected at Dupkata hill near Ivailovgrad (now extinct!) and near Dolni Glavanak village); up to 350 m alt^[4].

General distribution

Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey^[5] and Russia^[6].

Acknowledgement

We managed to take the pictures, thanks to Vladimir Trifonov (Владимир Трифонов) - chief expert at RIEW-Haskovo.

References

[1] Antoaneta Petrova. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[2] Antoaneta Petrova. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[3] Antoaneta Petrova. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[4] Antoaneta Petrova. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[5] Antoaneta Petrova. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[6] Alexander Fateryga, Anton Popovich, Valentina Fateryga, Karel Kreutz. 2020. Cephalanthera epipactoides (Orchidaceae) in Russia. Nature Conservation Research. Заповедная наука 2020. 5 (Suppl.1).

Cephalanthera epipactoides на български

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