The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans
Wetland ecosystems are important habitats for the growth and survival of numerous terrestrial orchids in Europe. This study reviews the current knowledge on the orchids of wetland vegetation in the Central Balkans. The orchid flora was analyzed from taxonomic, phytogeographical, ecological and conse...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| author | Vladan Djordjević Svetlana Aćić Eva Kabaš Predrag Lazarević Spyros Tsiftsis Dmitar Lakušić |
| author_facet | Vladan Djordjević Svetlana Aćić Eva Kabaš Predrag Lazarević Spyros Tsiftsis Dmitar Lakušić |
| author_sort | Vladan Djordjević |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wetland ecosystems are important habitats for the growth and survival of numerous terrestrial orchids in Europe. This study reviews the current knowledge on the orchids of wetland vegetation in the Central Balkans. The orchid flora was analyzed from taxonomic, phytogeographical, ecological and conservation aspects. The most important taxa include the two Balkan endemics (<i>Dactylorhiza cordigera</i> subsp. <i>bosniaca</i> and <i>D. kalopissi</i> subsp. <i>macedonica</i>) and the three subendemics of the Balkans and the Carpathians (<i>Dactylorhiza cordigera</i> subsp. <i>cordigera</i>, <i>D. maculata</i> subsp. <i>transsilvanica</i> and <i>Gymnadenia frivaldii</i>), as well as a considerable number of Central European, Eurasian and boreal orchid representatives. Several orchid taxa occurring in the wet meadows and fens of the Central Balkans have a southern limit of their distribution in this part of Europe, suggesting that wetlands are important refuges for them. In total, 33 orchid taxa were recorded in plant communities from five classes, 10 orders and 17 alliances. Most orchid taxa grow in the following wetland vegetation types: wet meadows (class <i>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea</i>, order <i>Molinietalia caeruleae</i>, alliances <i>Molinion caeruleae</i>, <i>Deschampsion cespitosae</i> and <i>Calthion palustris</i>); fens (class <i>Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae</i>, order <i>Caricetalia fuscae</i>, alliance <i>Caricion fuscae</i>); tall-herb vegetation along mountain streams and springs (class <i>Mulgedio-Aconitetea</i>); marshes and herb-land vegetation of freshwater or brackish water bodies (class <i>Phragmito-Magnocaricetea</i>). This study highlights the importance of serpentine and silicate wetland vegetation types as important habitats for the survival of terrestrial orchids. In addition, detailed taxonomic, ecological and chorological studies of the wetland orchids of the Central Balkans need to be carried out in order to establish a successful plan for their conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:02:04Z |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:02:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c458b39a91cc4a1488007914f928574c2023-11-30T21:52:57ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-12-011512610.3390/d15010026The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central BalkansVladan Djordjević0Svetlana Aćić1Eva Kabaš2Predrag Lazarević3Spyros Tsiftsis4Dmitar Lakušić5Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 1st km Dramas-Mikrochoriou, P.O. Box 172, 66100 Drama, GreeceInstitute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaWetland ecosystems are important habitats for the growth and survival of numerous terrestrial orchids in Europe. This study reviews the current knowledge on the orchids of wetland vegetation in the Central Balkans. The orchid flora was analyzed from taxonomic, phytogeographical, ecological and conservation aspects. The most important taxa include the two Balkan endemics (<i>Dactylorhiza cordigera</i> subsp. <i>bosniaca</i> and <i>D. kalopissi</i> subsp. <i>macedonica</i>) and the three subendemics of the Balkans and the Carpathians (<i>Dactylorhiza cordigera</i> subsp. <i>cordigera</i>, <i>D. maculata</i> subsp. <i>transsilvanica</i> and <i>Gymnadenia frivaldii</i>), as well as a considerable number of Central European, Eurasian and boreal orchid representatives. Several orchid taxa occurring in the wet meadows and fens of the Central Balkans have a southern limit of their distribution in this part of Europe, suggesting that wetlands are important refuges for them. In total, 33 orchid taxa were recorded in plant communities from five classes, 10 orders and 17 alliances. Most orchid taxa grow in the following wetland vegetation types: wet meadows (class <i>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea</i>, order <i>Molinietalia caeruleae</i>, alliances <i>Molinion caeruleae</i>, <i>Deschampsion cespitosae</i> and <i>Calthion palustris</i>); fens (class <i>Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae</i>, order <i>Caricetalia fuscae</i>, alliance <i>Caricion fuscae</i>); tall-herb vegetation along mountain streams and springs (class <i>Mulgedio-Aconitetea</i>); marshes and herb-land vegetation of freshwater or brackish water bodies (class <i>Phragmito-Magnocaricetea</i>). This study highlights the importance of serpentine and silicate wetland vegetation types as important habitats for the survival of terrestrial orchids. In addition, detailed taxonomic, ecological and chorological studies of the wetland orchids of the Central Balkans need to be carried out in order to establish a successful plan for their conservation.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/1/26Orchidaceaespecies diversitywet meadowfensmiresvegetation |
| spellingShingle | Vladan Djordjević Svetlana Aćić Eva Kabaš Predrag Lazarević Spyros Tsiftsis Dmitar Lakušić The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans Diversity Orchidaceae species diversity wet meadow fens mires vegetation |
| title | The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans |
| title_full | The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans |
| title_fullStr | The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans |
| title_short | The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans |
| title_sort | orchids of wetland vegetation in the central balkans |
| topic | Orchidaceae species diversity wet meadow fens mires vegetation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/1/26 |
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