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“Heavenly fair” – this is how a word “orchids” can be translated in Russian.
They are standing out even against background of tropical forests
bright plants by their original shape, exotic shades and unique aroma.
Starting from a high antiquity orchids have been attracting attention of scientists. Even in ancient epoch (370–
300 years B.C.) a Greek botanist Teophrast gave a description
of orchids. Confucius mentioned orchids in his works. They
were stitched on silk, drawn on paper, imaged on porcelain,
described in poems... Ancient Aztecs considered orchids to be
divinities and worshipped them, used to decorate temples and
ceremonial clothes.
Nowadays orchids are decorating coats of arms and flags,
being emblems of some countries. Peristeria elata (picture 1)
is considered to be a national relic of Panama, its “holy ghost”,
it seems like a fragile pigeon with uplifted wings is sitting in
the center of this ice-blue flower. Indians of Costa-Riсa from
the ancient times has adored an amazingly beautiful orchid –
Cattleyaskinneri – and now it is decorating country’s coat of
arms. One more species of the genus – Cattleyamossiae –
is a national flower of Venezuela. Beautiful Lycaste is a national flower of Guatemala, Epidendrum mutelianum with
bright-yellow flowers in purple lines, having an unusual fragrance is a symbol of the island Guadeloupe. The Australians
were also unable to resist the Orchidaceae. Colorful purple
Dendrobium phalaenopsis was chosen to be an emblem of
the Australian state Queensland.
Picture 1
Peristeria elata
Nowadays about 500 stamps of 88 demonstrating
orchids were issued in the world.
Orchids Heavenly fair
Heavenly fair
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Lapland state nature biosphere reserve
Orchids Heavenly fair
Tropical orchids were brought into Europe only in the XVII
century, initially they were delivered in Holland.
Orchids are represented on stamps. Orchid vanilla
(picture 2) gives the world the finest and the most expensive
spice produced from its fruits. In nature vanilla flowers coming
out only in the third year of its life and gladden one’s eyes only
for one day are pollinated by small bees and humming birds.
Vanilla from the island Guadeloupe was the first to be depicted on a stamp in 1905. Nowadays about 500 stamps of 88
demonstrating orchids were issued in the world.
The Orchidaceae is the second family in abundance of
metasperms. There are up to 35 000 wild growing and up
to 150 000 artificially cultivated species and they constitute
10 % of all plants in the world.
Among abundance of their species there are no tree or
shrub forms, all of them are redivives. The majority of orchids
are epiphytes – they inhabit stems and branches of trees, but
don’t think that are parasitizing on a host plant. Not at all! Noble orchids use trees only as support growing in cavities and
fractures of cortex where humus and dust are accumulated.
The other group of the Orchidaceae – is ground species.
The most wonderful part of the plant is doubtless elegant
flowers. A broad range of their marking – from sharply white
and tender pink to bright-green, dark-purple and almost black –
becomes even broader due to various combinations of shades.
Reticulate, striped and fancy colored flowers are met. Ophrys
insectífera’s flower (photo of ophrys) resembles a large dark
spider; when waving among branches it can scare even people.
Ophrys genus orchids are “entertainers”: they learned easily to simulate butterflies, bumblebees and even mosquitoes.
There are species which flowers can be confused with snowwhite pigeons (photo of Habenaria) or sparkling hummingbirds. Rare flowers called Dracula simian (picture 3) are hiding
cloud forests in south-east of Ecuador and Peru at the elevation
about 2 thousand meters. It seems like the nature was in a good
mood when drawing a monkey’s face on their velvet petals.
Orchid flowers amaze us not only by their colors but by
a shape as well. They consist of six petals organized in two
circles. Three petals of the outer circle are almost similar, and
the one in the middle significantly differs from the others. For
such irregular shape Goethe called orchids ugly lilies. One can
disagree with an uncomplimentary definition, but there are no
doubts that lilies are the first-degree relatives of orchids. Lilies
are strict beauties; their hexalobed flower is considered to be
an icon of harmony and mathematical accuracy. It has many
symmetry axes, whereas flowers of their extravagant relatives –
orchids have only one.
The lower petal of the inner circle of a floral envelope
doesn’t look like the others, is called labellum and fulfills an
important function during pollination as it serves as a “landing
field” for insects-pollinators. The main difference of labellum
is its size – it is larger than the other petals and it has various
forms.
The Orchidaceae from Calypso and Paphiopedilum genera
have labellum which is overblown and resembles accordingly
a fine shoe. Lebellum of the other orchids is flat, but different
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Habenaria
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chids turned out to be the first plants inhabiting the island
Krakatoa (Indonesia) where all alive perished in the previous
century after volcanic explosion.
Once a seed has landed, it needs adequate moisture and
“patron” – a mushroom. If an environment is favorable, the
embryo begins to develop, forming something strange – colorless, spherical, and even covered with unicellular hairs. This
tiny “miracle” (up to 2 mm in diameter) is called protocorm.
As if realizing that it is not too much attractive, an “ugly duckling” hides underground for a long time: – up to 3 years at butterfly orchids and – up to 11 years at orchis. Protocorm gradually transforms into rizorm, or as it is often called, mikorizorm
(since mycorhizae is also present – a symbiosis of fungus and
plant roots).
From year to another year pale and week orchid baby
builds up tiny cataphylles, increases the number of segments,
stores nutrient matters. And then a moment comes when the
first small and mean but a real green leaf is battling its way
to sunlight. Almost immediately after this solemn occasion
a young beauty lays its first additional root. So long and hard it
takes for the plant to grow.
And then an orchid life develops differently. Many species
die off immediately after the first flowering. The others live
longer and can delight us with their amazing flowers for several more years. Our butterfly orchids – are real long-livers
reaching the age of 30 years.
Generally, the Orchidaceae have three clearly distinguished
types of life cycles: accelerated, medium and slow. Orchids can
remain underground for several years and live at expense of
a fungus. Such a condition is called by botanists as secondarydormancy. It can last for quite a long time, and is even typical
to forest species. There are two champions of such kind of “underground”: Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra) and squirrel-ear (Goodyera repens) which spent more than 20 years
underground. They were not satisfied with amount of lighting
in the forest, but as soon as the site where they were hiding
became lighter, both anchorites came out of their voluntary
imprisonment.
Vegetative reproduction is also suitable for orchids, for example, by means of tubers. Up to 10 tubers form Dactylorhiza
majalis, up to 15 – Dactylorhiza incarnata. Rhizomatous orchids
use their rhizomes for reproduction. But there is one more rare
method among flowering plants – brood buds (for example,
Hammarbya paludosa). They are organized on the periphery of
a leaf and form a new plant falling down.
And now there is a little ode to the fungi – master and
feeder of orchids. They simply would not survive without fungi. For a long time scientists did not even know how important
is the role of this humble orchid’s friend. It was a French botanist N. Bernard who realized it first in 1899. It took quite a long
time to prove it with the help of special experiments.
If a fungus penetrates into the seed cells, amount of nutritional matters, vitamins and growth promoters increase
there dramatically. But do not think that orchids are just living
at expense of a fungus. No, there is a symbiosis – a mutually
profitable cohabitation, and orchids consolidating this strange
Orchids Heavenly fair
variations do exist: it is whole at Limnarchis, Liparis and Platanthera, dissected into two blades at twayblade, into three
blades at Dactylorhiza, all three blades are long and filiform at
lizard orchis, fimbriate – at Pogonia.
The other peculiarity of an orchid’s flower is one stamen.
This single stamen grows together with a baculum and style.
Only Paphiopedilum are an exception – they have two stamens.
One more systematic attribute of the Orchidaceae is their
pollen. These plants have inferior ovary developing under
a flower, fruit-capsule. When ripened, seeds are falling from six
longitudinal slots. Capsules of tropical species reach large sizes
(chicken egg-sized), our species are smaller. They are heavier
and smaller in numbers comparing to growing on trees stems.
Why do orchids need such abundance of shapes? The answer
is simple: all manoeuvres are to improve successful cross-fertilization. For a long period of evolution these plants has adapted to pollination by certain types of insects. Result of it was
called by a prominent Russian biologist I.I. Mechnikov one of
the most surprising and harmonious conformations.
Orchids produce a lot of nectar and pollen and this is a favorite delicacy not only for insects, but also for some species
of birds, for example, hummingbirds and sugar birds. Orchids
adapted to taste of both. Birds are mainly attracted by red colors of corolla, flies – by red-brownish and dirty-purple tones,
butterflies – by ice-white petals shining in twilights of tropical
forests. Orchids grant their floral envelopes to some insects
for blowing. Sometimes flowers are alluring insects imitating
their mates. There is one more trick among plenty of the others
worth mentioning. It consists in a very long blossom of unfertilized flowers. Thus, lady’s slipper waiting for insemination
doesn’t droop for more than three weeks, and immediately
droops after fertilization. Our orchids can blossom up to two
weeks and tropical orchids can preserve their blossom heads
during 2–3 months.
Life’ journey from a tiny seed to a gorgeous beauty – orchid is very complicated and different from the other plants.
Already Charles Darwin paid attention that orchids are trying
to produce as much seeds as possible. So, one capsule of spot
leaf orchids can contain more than 6 thousand seeds, capsule
of Gymnadenia conopsea – up to 10 thousand, capsule of butterfly orchid – up to 200 thousand.
But only the smallest part of seeds will survive, at the best
case one per one thousand. Seeds of light-minded beauties are
almost not supplied with nutritious matters. Strange things
are not over: their corcule is not divided (as the others are)
into a radicle, pedicle, bud and seed lobe. In compensation orchids’ seeds are very light thanks to a special membrane with
air bubbles.
Orchids make sure that seeds are leaving their capsules
namely in dry “flying” weather. Capsule blades have long hygroscopical fuzzes which change their shape in wet weather:
in dry air they are twisting, mixing seeds and pushing them
closer to exit. But during moist weather capsules are swollen up and safely block this exit. Botanists believe that given
a good wind and dry weather weightless orchid seeds are able
to travel for several tens of kilometers. Somehow or other or-
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Lapland state nature biosphere reserve
Orchids Heavenly fair
friendship make their modest contribution in form of thiamine and folic acid required for fungus growth. But sometimes
the process is disturbed: orchid root cells may begin to digest
fungus cells or sometimes a fungus acts aggressively towards
its beautiful mate dissolving its cells. Therefore, it is forced to
produce special protective substances that prevent from penetration of fungi hyphae. Ability of these fragile creatures to
defend themselves was also detected by the French scientist
N. Bernard.
In case of normal cooperation fungi fulfill two more important functions. Firstly, it was noted that orchids are not
subjected to fungous diseases (do not rot) which is typical for
other plants. And secondly, more prosaic role – fungi not only
feed, but also water orchids.
It is hard to believe, but numerous and amazing Orchidaceae was the last family which appeared on our planet in
the vegetation world. That is why orchids are easily organized
in hybrid forms. First hybrids (between Nigritella nigra and
Gymnadenia conopsea) were found by scientists in the Alps.
Czech biologists F. Prochazka and V. Velichek examining this
phenomenon found that there are various hybridization types:
they can form complex composite forms between three species. For example, the genus Dactylorhiza hybridizes with six
genera (orchis, nigritella, Anacamptis, Pseudorchis, butterfly
orchid and Coeloglossum); genus nigritella makes hybrids with
eight genera, orchis and Anacamptis – with four genera, butterfly orchid – with five. This unique capability of an orchid is
used by breeders for a long time while cultivation of beautiful
greenhouse species from tropical ones.
Geographical range of the family is very broad in the
Northern Hemisphere it starts from Alaska and Sweden, in
the Southern Hemisphere it reaches Tierra del Fuego. At that
35 thousand species grow in Tropical America (more than
8 thousand species) and Asia (about 7 thousand species), the
following place for species diversity goes to the tropics of Africa and Madagascar. Many orchid species are growing in New
Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. Among the Orchidaceae there is a plenty of endemic species, i.e. those that are
found only in strictly limited territories. For example, one of
the most beautiful orchids in the world – Laelia (pictures
6– 7). Orchids, oddly enough, even penetrated to the Arctic.
The most famous “polar inhabitants” are a frog orchid and
green and Corallorhiza trifida (picture 8). They are found all
over the tundra from the Kola peninsula to Chukotka.
Naturally, the more northern is a habitat, the less orchids species range. Our domestic orchids, of course, are not
so bright comparing to their tropical relatives, but they also
can demonstrate their beauty, and what is more importantly
to surprise with the tenacity they express to adapt in severe
(compared to tropical nature) habitat conditions. There are
very modest orchids with small yellowish and greenish flowers, for example, almost plain Listera ovata, Hammarbya paludosa. Still most species are charming and fragile creatures with
delicate exquisite aroma and pretty bright flowers, usually
gathered in graceful inflorescences. Some, however, have large
single flowers (for example, Calypso orchid) (pictures 9–10).
Picture 5
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Laelia
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ABCGheritage – Our common arctic heritage
Picture 8
Corallorhiza trifida
180 species range in Russia, only 19 of them – in the Murmansk region. Our country is relatively rich in orchids, especially western and central regions of the European part. Here
an interesting trend is observed: from tundra to forest area
the number of species is increasing followed by its reduction
close to plains. Very few orchids are near the Urals. Siberia also
has a lack of this family’s representatives. Much more orchids
range in plains of the Russian European part.
In the Far East, Amur River region and Primorye orchids
are widely represented – there are more than 40 % of species
known in our country. And there are many of those growing
only in this region. For example, Liparis japonica and Liparis makino, Epipactis thunbergii, Platanthera kamtschatica and
Platanthera sachalinensis, Galearis cyclochila, Amitostigma
kinoshitae etc.
Goodyera genus is represented in Russia by 3 species, one
of which is squirrel-ear (Goodyera repens) – has already been
included into the Red list of the Murmansk region. This fragile
light-demanding plant is one of few ever-green species. Genus Epipactis includes more than 250 species, 8 of them are
encountered in our place. Red list includes 3 Epipactis species:
Epipactis palustris, Epipactis microphylla with a mild clove aroma and Epipactis purpurata.
Splendid Calypso bulbosa – is an exclusive species, included
into the Red list of Russia.
From 10 species of nigritella genus (Gymnadenia) 4 species are inhabiting our region, two of them are included into
the Red list: Gymnadenia odoratissima and Gymnadenia conopsea). Coralroot genus Corallorhiza, consisting of 15 species
is represented in our country only by one species included into
the Red list – Corallorhiza trifida, inhabiting even tundra zones.
Among very rare species are representatives of the other
genera included into the Red list: ghost orchid (Epipogium
Picture 9
Calypso bulbosa
aphyllum), Neottianthe cucullata, black nigretella (Nigritella
nigra),and fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera), gad-fly orchid O. oestrifera and bee orchid O. apifera).
Dactylorhiza genus having about 30 species is widely represented in our country (approximately 20 species).
Both species of Coeloglossum genus are typical for our territories, frog orchid (C. viride) is especially widely spread.
North of Russia is home to an amazingly cold-proof species
from Leucorсhis genera – Leucoorchis albida.
There are first candidates from the genus Listera to be included into the Red list – these are Listera savatieri and Listera
cordata.
The only one representative of the genus Hammarbya –
Hammarbya paludosa – gradually disappears due to reclamation works.
Fragile look of beautiful orchids makes thinking that they
are gentle and soft. But this family never ceases to amaze biologists. It turns out that many species are quite endurable,
some of them are resistant to moisture and even to water
logging (Hammarbya paludosa, Pogonia japonica, Liparis loeselii
etc).
Orchids of wet soils have developed one very important
capability – to move their subterranean organs for optimal
plant depth.
The majority of orchids tend to alkaline soils (calcicole),
fewer species inhabit acidic soils. There are even such species
that grow equally well on any type of soil (spot leaf orchids,
dark-winged orchids). The vast majority of orchids has adapted to infertile soils (butterfly orchid, Platanthera chlorantha
and Corallorhiza trifida).
Orchids prefer to inhabit well-lit areas, and only 15 % of
the species (ghost orchid, squirrel-ear and some others) are
able to withstand intensive occultation.
Orchids Heavenly fair
Picture 7
Laelia purpurata
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Lapland state nature biosphere reserve
Orchids Heavenly fair
A large number of orchids are tolerant to extreme temperature fluctuations. Champions of cold resistance are Pseudorchis albida, Calypso bulbosa, frog orchid, Corallorhiza trifida –
species digested tundra and alpine meadows. They all grow
in our place.
All orchids in our country are ground plants, there are no
epiphytes. The vast majority is photosynthesizing, i.e. green
chlorophyll-containing grass.
Form of lamina may vary. For example, leaves of nigritella
are linear and lanceolate, leaves of ladies’ slippers, Listera ovata, Adder’s mouth and butterfly orchid are oval and elliptical.
Size and leaves arrangement on orchid stems can also vary significantly. Leaves of some species are provided with leafs talks,
others are sessile. Even distribution of leaves along a stem is
typical for helleborines and ladies’-slippers. It can be alternative leaves position, opposite leaves arrangement is also found,
leaves of some species (orchids) form a rosette, sometimes
having a caulis with gradually decreasing leaves (nigritella).
Leaf color is also various – from pale to dark green, some orchids are covered with brown and blood-redspots, which are
popularly known as Holy Mother’s tears or job’s tears.
Not all orchids of our country have green leaves and caulis.
Mycotrophic species deprived of both are found, they live at
expense of primitive fungi producing nutritional matters for
“lazy” orchid from dissolving organic residues. For example,
they are coralroot, ghost orchid. Leaves of most orchids die
together with a caulis at the end of summer and only an underground part of a plant winters. The others stay green under
snow preserving their vegetative parts (calypso, squirrel-ear
and some species of orchids).
Subterranean parts of orchids are also of diversified forms.
Many species are characterized by formation of lateral additional roots coming from a caulis, storage organs – bulbs. Very
often their shape is a main feature that determines a difference between genera. Visually similar Orchids and Dactylorhiza can be identified only by their bulbs: these subterraneous
organs of orchids are rounded, while bulbs of Dactylorhiza are
bladed, resembling small hands. Plants use them as storage of
nutritional matters. Normally there are two bulbs: one is used
in a current year, the second one is building up storage for
the next year. Instead of bulbs many species form rhizomes –
underground horizontal offshoots with pale scale-like leaves.
They don’t only fulfill a storing function, but are also involved
in vegetative reproduction (squirrel-ear, heart-leaved twain
blade).
Very original rhizomes are formed by mycotrophic species:
Bird’s-nest Orchid is weaving a real bird’s nest underground,
Corallorhiza trifida forms a “coral tree”, ghost orchid forms
a whole vegetation bed from rhizomes. Calypso orchid’s subterranean organs resemble bulbs – pseudo-bulbs. Their soft
mucous tissues stockpile nutritive substance and water.
So, we were introduced with one of the most interesting
and beautiful families of angiosperms.
Totally 19 species from 15 genera of orchids are represented in the territory of the Murmansk region. The Lapland Reserve is inhabitant by ten species.
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Picture 11
Corallorriza trifida
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be
5. Heart-leaved twayblade Listera ovata
It is a gentle modest plain plant with a thin caulis a thin
creeping rhizome, with a height from 10 to 20 cm, a couple of
green leaves is located in the middle of a thin caulis opposite
each other. Raceme is thin, up to 4 cm in length, consists of
4–10 greenish small flowers. Labellum is oblong, violet-purple,
dissected into two linear lobes.
Like all orchids Heart-leaved twayblade is characterized by
unique structure of internal flower elements. Pistil fuses with
a single stamen. One stigma blade is functioning properly, i.e.
serves as a pollen-catching surface, and the other part is modified in so-called beak. It forms a kind of arch above a stigmatic
surface, covering it in the beginning of blossom. Ovate anther
with two pollen masses inside is located above a beak. Another opens already within a flower bud and pollen masses are lying on a beak. They are protected by elongated top of filament.
Heart-leaved twayblade has a very interesting mechanism
of cross-fertilization. There is a stria in the middle of an elongated labellum which produces and accumulates nectar. Small
insects (Diptera and Hymenoptera) use a labellum as a landing surface. Licking nectar, they gradually move toward a center of a flower; after satiation insects rear and touch a beak.
At the same time a beak bleeds with a drop of sticky liquid
produced in special chambers. This fluid is attached to pollen
masses and an insect and instantly dries. Thus insects become
unwitting assistants: visiting other flowers they touch stigmas
and leaves pollen on it. Access to stigmatic surface is free in
a result of beak drying in those flowers where pollen masses
has been already extracted.
6. Pseudorchid Leucorchis albida
A plant with a low caulis (12–40 cm) and a bulb, digitpartite
almost up to a base into thin and long lobes. Oblong leaves,
from 3 to 5 pieces, reach 8 cm. Inflorescence – is a thick cylindrical many-flowered spike let of 10–40 small pale-yellowish
flowers. Bracts are lance late, shorter than flowers. One of the
most northern populations of European Russia is represented
in the Murmansk region.
7. Corallorriza trifida or coral root (photo 11).
Non-green (saprophytic) plant with a coral-shape whitish rhizome, branched into short lateral branches. Stems are
straight, thin, denuded, yellowish, reaching 10–30 cm, leaves
are replaced by tubular leaf flakes dressing a caulis from below.
From 2 to 10 small drooping, yellowish or greenish-whitish
flowers are located on caulis top. Coral root prefers shaded
areas with a rich humus layer in coniferous and deciduous forests, on their edges, on outskirts of sphagnum bogs and grown
wild roads and paths. The flower is not rare for the reserve, but
is only visible in blossom period, so is known to few.
8. Squirrel-ear Goodyera repens.
Is named after the English botanist of the XVII century
J. Goodyera. One of the few Russian evergreen orchids. Its
leaves overwinter and die off only during a next spring, and
sometimes even in a year. Therefore, there is a lot of faded
but well-reserved leaves at caulis base. Squirrel-ear shoots
early (in June), but starts blooming in early August and lasts
for about two weeks. Fruits ripen in 1.5–2 months. Plant height
Orchids Heavenly fair
1. The very first by time of efflorescence and elegance –
is Calypso bulbosa (picture 10), which is sometimes called
a cold-resistant orchid. This is a low plant with a single elongated leave (in autumn a leaf is replaced, an orchid meets winter cold with a newly formed leaf). It is referred to as “bulbosa”
because of a false bulb near caulis base which serves as a storage organ, similar to the other representatives of the Orchidaceae family. In the middle of June Calypso is blooming with
one large pink-lilac flower, which fragrance is attracting bees.
A lovely plant received its named in honor of the most
beautiful woman in the ancient world – a nymph and a fairy
Calypso. The orchid looks exotically on the background of
mosses in coniferous or mixed forests, where they prefers to
grow.
The valley of a small stream, which flows into the western extremity of the Chunozero lake, under canopy of moist
spruce-forest with mosses in some periods is inhabited by
more than 500 blooming specimen of Calypso bulbosa. Thanks
to O.I. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky this place is called “the valley
of Calypso”.
Calypso is propagated by seeds or bulbs. This fragrant
plant – is a rare species included into the Red list of the region.
2. Spot leaf orchis Dactylozhiza maculata can be met in
forests and even within city boundaries. Name of the genus
Dactylorzhiza means that its root, more accurately, rhizome is
branching and digitipartite. It is spotted because green leaves
are covered by spots – specks, so popularly it is referred to as
job’s tears. Caulis of a spot leaf orchis is from 15 to 40 cm high
having from 3 to 5 leaves on it. Inflorescence is up to 6 cm
long, flowers are violet-pink, labellum has dark purple spots.
Spot leaf orchis is the most wide-spread northern orchid
which can be seen by everyone.
3. Except a spot leaf orchis Traunstein’s Dactylorhiza Dactylozhiza traunsteine called in honor of a scientist-botanist
Traunsteiner is also a rarely met species (only two habitats are
known).
This is a perennial plant with the height of 10–30 cm and
narrow straight leaves. Inflorescence consists of 5–15 purplish-red flowers. Labellum is deep with three blades and elongated middle lobe, of a purplish-pink color, with a dark pattern
of oblongated dashes, up to 7–10 mm long and 9–12 mm
wide. Blossoms in July. One of the most northern populations
in Europe is growing in the Murmansk region.
4. Gymnadenia orchid or fragrant orchid Gymnadenia
conopsea (picture 13).
The generic name Gymnadenia is derived from the Greek
word gimnos (“naked”) and aden (“gland”), because of Pollinaria denuded glands. Pollinaria – are compact orchid pollen
sacks, with a pedicle and adhesive glandule – retinaculum.
This plant is about 12–18 cm high with 4–7 alternate oblong
leaves. Flowers of a fragrant orchid are violet-pink, sessile, collected in a thick cylindrical spica. They attract insects by their
smell strengthening toward evening and offer them nectar in
a long curved spur.
Is found across the territory of the reserve, often in forests,
belt of birch crooked forest, occasionally – in tundra.
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Lapland state nature biosphere reserve
Orchids Heavenly fair
is up to 30 cm, inflorescence consists of 5–15 small white
flowers. Goodyera is a cross-pollinated plant, its flowers have
a sweet smell that attracts insects. It is very sensitive to light –
in case of an intensive shading it can switch to an underground
lifestyle and saprotrophic way of feeding for several years, and
in lightening reappear above the ground. In favorable conditions a squirrel-ear forms huge accumulations numbering
in tens of rosettes, but it never dominates in a grass canopy.
9. Frog orchid Coeloglossum viride
Muted low orchid is a perennial with a bipartite root. Caulis
reaches a height of 35 cm, with a few elongated leaves, no
root rosette. Inflorescence is up to 10 cm long, consisting of
twenty flowers. A flower itself is up to 5–7 mm, outer tepals
and ovary are often painted in a reddish or brownish color. Like
all the orchids a flower has a complex structure. Blossoms in
July and August, and occasionally are found throughout the
reserve. Symbiosis with soil fungi is noticed in all periods of
development.
10. Bog Adder’s-mouth Orchid. Hammarbya paludosa.
The rarest orchid in the Lapland reserve. And is the smallest one, its height ranges from 5 to 20 cm, caulis is yellowish with 2–3 yellow-green leaves. Inflorescence is loose, many-flowered, flowers are plain. The only area of inhabitation
in the reserve is trichophoretum bog south of Chunozero lake
between Vuytemnyark and Tuyplpahk. An interesting feature
of this orchid is that tiny roundish bulblets located on leaves
edge are used for vegetative reproduction. Such a method of
reproduction is rare among orchids.
Talking about orchids of the Lapland reserve one more species shall be mentioned – Ghost orchid Epipogium aphyllum,
which was discovered in the 1980s in Vaikis river valley. Herbarium specimen are not preserved.
Since then several expeditions to Vaikis river valley have
been organized to find it, but still there is no luck. Ghost orchid becomes noticeable only during blooming period due
to attractive and gentle quite large pink and white flowers.
It is completely devoid of chlorophyll, feeding is supplied via
symbiotic soil fungi. Rhizome is juicy, coral-shaped, branching. Above ground part is represented by one straight yellowish-white flower bearing caulis. The name itself chosen for this
plant is not accidental. Its leaves are reduced to small scales of
the same color as the caulis.
The attraction to this orchid is given by a few (2–8 flowers) raceme. Flowers have a very weak delicate aroma. Floral
envelope leaves are yellowish, downcast, resemble tentacles
of marine animals. Previously some botanists called it beard,
which accounts for the Latin (and Russian) name of the plant
(from the Greek epi – “above”, pogon – “beard”). Ghost orchid doesn’t blossom annually. Cross-pollination is carried out
by bumblebees. Reproduction is mainly vegetative carried out
by rhizome outgrowth, which buds are developed into plants
quickly losing relations with maternal ones.
Orchids outlived the dinosaurs and several ice ages – in the
Dominican Republic in a piece of amber aged of about 20 million years old a bee was discovered with a pollinarium (a special facility for storing orchid pollen) sticked to its body.
Picture 12
Dactylozhiza maculata
Picture 13
Gymnadenia conopsea
8
ABCGheritage – Our common arctic heritage