Arch. Biol. Sci., Belgrade, 65 (2), 697-701, 2013 DOI:10.2298/ABS1302697S

DACTYLORHIZA SAMBUCINA (L.) SOÓ () – A NEW SITE OUTSIDE THE CONTINUOUS RANGE IN POLAND

AGNIESZKA STEFANIAK1 and MAŁGORZATA DĄBROWSKA2

Department of Geobotany and Ecology, University of Łódz, 90-237 Lódź, Poland

Abstract - The Elder-flowered Orchid sambucina represents a sub-element of Central European and Alpine- North European vegetation type (Hare and Hare, 2001). The northern border of geographical area of this species is in Po- land. It was recorded in 160 localities in the country, with 40 confirmed ones in the last 10 years. The main centers of occur- rence of this species are the Sudety and Karpaty mountains. The northernmost locality of the Elder-flowered Orchid was in the Pogórze Kaczawskie. A new site within the Półboru Reserve is now the northernmost site of this species in Poland.

Key words: Dactylorhiza sambucina, a new site, Central Reserve Półboru, Poland.

INTRODUCTION (Baumann et al., 2010; Piekoś-Mirkowa and Mirek, 2006). It appears in Fagetalia sylvaticae woods, poor Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soó, the Elder-flowered grasslands of the Nardus order and meadows of Orchid (Orchis sambucina syn. L., Dactylorhiza lati- the Arrhenatheretalia order (Baumann et al., 2010; folia (L.) Soó) belongs to the genus Dactylorhiza Piekoś-Mirkowa and Mirek, 2006; Wróbel, 2006). comprising 10 to 30 species. The difference in their number is the result of unclear taxonomic status of In Poland, this is a strictly protected species the members of this genus (Szlachetko, 2010). (Piekoś-Mirkowa and Mirek, 2006), and in the Polish Red Book of it has the status of VU – vulner- Dactylorhiza sambucina is a geophyte with about able to extinction (Kaźmierczakowa and Zarzycki, 2 or 3 shallow divided tubers. The shoot is simple, ro- 2001). On the Red List of vascular plants in Poland, it bust, green or red and empty in the middle (Piekoś- is also a vulnerable species – V (Zarzycki and Szeląg, Mirkowa and Mirek, 2006) and 10-25 cm in height 1992). (Hegi, 1939; Mirek, et al., 1995; Piekoś-Mirkowa and Mirek, 2006; Szlachetko, 2010; Baumann et al., 2010). MATERIALS AND METHODS Delforge (2006) gives the angular height of 10 to 30 (45) cm, Bernacki (1999) from 10 to 25 (30) cm, with Orchid shoots were found in May 2006 (Fig. 1) at 4-6 leaves devoid of spots. Inflorescence is cylindrical the Półboru Reserve during field studies of forest and loose, from 3 to 7 cm in length, with 5 to 25 flow- communities (Dąbrowska, 2007). This position was ers (Baumann et al., 2010). The flowers are yellow to confirmed in 2010 and 2011; only a single shoot was red and have an elderberry odor. The Elder-flowered recorded in the area. The name of Dactylorhiza sam- Orchid occurs mainly on sandy and clay soils from bucina species was approved according to Delforge moderately dry to moist, with a weak acidic reaction (2006).

697 698 AGNIESZKA STEFANIAK ET AL.

Fig. 1. The Elder-flowered Orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina, red flower form in the Półboru Reserve (photo: M. Dabrowska, May 2006).

Fig.2. The general reach of Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soo (according to Bernacki et al., 2008) Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soó (Orchidaceae) – a new position in Poland 699

Fig.3. Distribution of Dactylorhiza sambucina in Poland (Bernacki and Mróz 2001 - revised).

Fig.4. Location of the position of Dactylorhiza sambucina in the Półboru Reserve. 700 AGNIESZKA STEFANIAK ET AL.

The Półboru Reserve is located in the municipal- (Bernacki. 1999), Tatry, Wyżyna Krakowsko- ity of Sieradz, the Sieradz district in the region of Łódź Częstochowska and Góry Świętokrzyskie (Bernacki (Dąbrowska, 2007). According to Polish physical-ge- and Mróz, (2001). So far, the northernmost posi- ographical division (Kondracki, 1998), the reserve is tion of this species was located in Pogórze Kacza- located within the mesoregion of Wysoczyzna Łaska, wskie (Pogórze Zachodniosudeckie). Other posi- the macroregion of Nizina Południowowielkopolska, tions, further to the north, are the historic positions subprovince of Niziny Środkowopolskie, province of (Kaźmierczakowa and Zarzycki, 2001) (Fig.3). The Niż Środkoweuropejski. According to the Polish ge- new site of Dactylorhiza sambucina was found in the obotanical division of Szafer (1988), the area belongs reserve in the hornbeam of the typical undergrowth to the Widawski district, Północne Wysoczyzny of Półboru-Tilio-Carpinetum typicum in section 275 Brzeżne region, Pas Wyżyn Środkowych suborder, (Fig.4), and is outside the unique range of this spe- Bałtyk order. The reserve was established in 1983 to cies. Now it is the northernmost position in Poland. protect an old forest stand of natural oak and pine, In addition, this finding is located in the lowland along with the positions of rare plant species. On the part of the country. basis of geobotanical research in the reserve, there are two separate forest units: Potentillo albae-Quer- The Elder-flowered Orchid is a species associ- cetum and Tilio-Carpinetum (Jakubowska-Gabara, ated mainly with montane areas and highlands. In 1995). Poland, all previously recorded positions located in the lowlands are now considered historical. The DISCUSSION withdrawal of the species from montane and upland areas can be also seen (Bernacki and Mróz, 2001). Dactylorhiza sambucina represents a sub-element of This can be connected to the disappearance of the Central European and Alpine-North European veg- habitats that this species prefers. These are habitats etation type (Hare and Hare, 2001). It occurs mainly that require extensive mowing and grazing (Bernacki in the temperate zone, sub-Mediterranean and in and Mróz, 2001). Various initiatives are being taken mountains in the Mediterranean area (Baumann et in Poland to protect this species, such as the proce- al., 2010; Buttler, 2000; Jersáková et al., 2006). The dure applied in the Pieniński Park Narodowy, where southern boundary of its range reaches southern the meadows are mowed in order to maintain the Spain, northern Sicily and southern Peloponnese. 12 positions of the Elder-flowered Orchid (Wróbel, The eastern border runs through Turkey, Ukraine, 2006). The new position is now located only in the Small Caucasus. The northern boundary includes lowlands. It is highly endangered due to the presence southern Norway and central (Fig. 2). In Po- of only a single shoot of the species, as well as the land, it occurs within the ranges of montane plants. increased shading of its habitat due to the expansion The northern boundary of the continuous Central of hornbeam (Jakubowska-Gabara, 1995). European acreage runs in the southern part of the country (Bernacki and Mróz, 2001). The acreage REFERENCES was recorded on Polish territory at about 160 sites, Baumann, H., Kunkele, S. and R. Lorenz (2010). Flora Świata. which in recent years has been confirmed only in 40 Storczyki Europy i obszarów sąsiednich. Multico Oficyna of them (Hare and Hare, 2001). Currently, the main Wydawnicza, Warszawa, 1-327. centers of their occurrence in Poland are in Sudety Bernacki, L.(1999). Storczyki zachodniej części polskich Beskidów. (up to 1000 m asl), Pogórze Bolkowsko-Wałbrzyskie, COLGRAF-PRESS, Poznań, 1-119. Rudawy Janowickie (Mróz, 1994), Góry Bardzkie i Góry Złote (Mróz, 1994) and Pieniny (Zarzycki, Bernacki, L., and L. Mróz (2001). Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soó. Kukułka bzowa. In: Polska Czerwona Księga Roślin. 1981), (up to 1115 m). Currently, no positions have Paprotniki i rośliny kwiatowe (Eds. R. Kaźmierczakowa been confirmed from Nizina Śląsko-Łużycka and and K. Zarzycki), Polska Akademia Nauk, Kraków, 549- Nizina Śląska (Schube, 1903), Pogórze Cieszyńskie 551. Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soó (Orchidaceae) – a new position in Poland 701

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