Limodorum-abortivum_15

Description:

Limodorum abortivumViolet Limodorum, Violet Bird's-nest OrchidSlo.: navadna splavka Dat.: May 24. 2012Lat.: 45.50186 Long.: 13.86389Code: Bot_621/2012/DSC_3677Habitat: Light mixed wood, among bushes, almost flat terrain, half-shade, dry place, probably limestone bedrock, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations 1.200-1.300 mm/year, average temperature 12-14 deg C, elevation 360 m (1.100 feet), submediterranean phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: East of village Popetre, next to the road toward village Sveti Anton and town Koper, Primorska, Slovenia EC Comment: This is another mycoheterotrophic orchid, which is associated primarily with genus Russula. But the plant is not completely without chlorophyll. Despite the presence of photosynthetic pigments, CO2 fixation seems to be insufficient to compensate for respiration in adult plants (Ref.:(2)). Therefore fungal symbionts are needed to survive. Interestingly, seedlings develop very slowly, spending up to ten years underground before flowering. Growing in a group of a few plants. This plant is not common in Slovenia, however, also not a very rare one. Duration of flowering is very short, which makes it difficult to find flowers 'in a good shape' for photography. Protected according to 'Uredba o zavarovanih prosto iveih rastlinskih vrstah' Ur.l. RS, t. 46/2004. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "V" representing a vulnerable species.References:(1) Personal communication with Mr. Branko Dolinar, www.orhideje.si/(2) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16448415