Image of Pyramidal orchid

Description:

Slo.: piramidasti pilovec - Habitat: stony karst unmaintained grassland, modestly south inclined mountain slope, calcareous ground; dry, open and sunny place, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 1.700 mm/year, average temperature 10-12 deg C, elevation 375 m (1.250 feet), submediterranean phytogeographical region. - Substratum: soil. - Comments: Anacamptis pyramidalis is a member of predominantly Mediterranean Orchis family. It has extremely small and light seeds, like dust, so the wind spreads them very effectively. However, the seeds do not contain enough nutrients, which are necessary for germination. Successful orchid seed germination requires several correct conditions to be present - type of soil, moisture, oxygen, light and warmth and, in addition, seeds require also the presence of mycorrhizal soil fungus. The fungus must infect the seeds and provide missing nutrients for the germination of the plant. Nevertheless, growth of the plant is very slow and it can take several years from germination to first flowering. The mutual relations between fungi and orchids are manifold, species specific and still in large part unknown or not understood well. Apparently both sides have several benefits, although some orchids expel the fungi after they mature and produce their own food by their green leafs. - Anacamptis pyramidalis is not a rare plant and easy to find in grassland due to its attractive and deep color of flowers, which can't be overlooked. Also identification is easy based on, among other traits, very specific pyramidal shape of the inflorescences, at least at the beginning of blooming period. Later the inflorescences lengthen considerably. These plants are endangered by flower pickers and hence protected. - Protected according to 'Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah' Ur.l. RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protection of wild plants, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, No.: 46/2004). Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by 'V' representing an endangered species. - Ref.: (1) H. Baumann, S. Kuenkele, R. Lorenz, Orchideen Europas, Ulmer (2006), p9. (2) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p1044. (3) P. Skoberne, Zavarovane rastline Slovenije (Protected plants of Slovenia) (in Slovenian), Mladinska knjiga Zaloba (2007), p85. (4) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p775. (5) http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/issues/bot-09-33-6/bot-33-6-5-0905-16.pdf