Image of Royal helleborine

Description:

Slo.: temnordea movirnica - syn.: Epipactis danubialis Robatsch & Rydlo, Epipactis atropurpurea Raf. - Habitat: alpine pasture near mixed wood edge, slightly inclined mountain slope, southeast aspect; colluvial, calcareous, skeletal ground; shallow soil layer; dry, sunny, open, relatively warm place; elevation 608 m (1.995 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Comment: Epipactis atrorubens is still a quite common wild orchid in Slovenia, although shrinking of its stands is reported from several other countries. The species is easy to recognize because of its typical color of flowers and habitus. This is quite an exception in this phylogenetically very young genus. Different authorities still quarrel how many species the genus comprises. DNA analyses did not help to resolve this question very much. Apparently DNA patterns have not yet stabilized into stable clusters and thus can hardly help in decisions what is and what is not the same or a different species. In addition the plants are very variable and hybrids and intermediate forms frequent. Also Epipactis atrorubens is variable. Sometimes only 15 cm tall, sometimes 60 cm tall plants (up to 80 cm according to Ref.2) can be found, having only a few flowers (5-6), up to maximally 40 flowers (Ref.2., Ref.3, Ref.5). The three flowering stalks on my pictures have 48, 50 and 64 flowers. Hm...? The plants are beautiful and have a pleasant odor on vanilla.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by 'V' representing a vulnerable species.Ref.:(1) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 765.(2) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 1033.(3) H. Kretzschmar, Die Orchideen Deutschlands und angrenzenden Lander, Quelle Meyer (2008), p 118.(4) H. Baumann, S. Kuenkele, R. Lorenz, Orchideen Europas, Ulmer (2006), p 73.(5) B. Dolinar, Kukavievke v Sloveniji (Orchidaceae of Slovenia) (in Slovenian), Pipinova Knjiga (2015), p 55.(6) O. Sebald, S. Seybold, G. Philippi, A. Wrz, Eds., Die Farn und Blutenpflanzen Baden-Wurttembergs, Band 8., Verlag Eugen Ulmer (1998), p 305.