|
|
click photo for larger file
Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera
Fly Orchid
|
Photographer: Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy
ID: 0000 0000 0614 0198 (2014-06-03)Copyright © 2014 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy
|
|
INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH THE PHOTO
|
date of photo Jun 1, 2014
latitude 46.35925 longitude 13.70525
View on Google Maps.
location
Koritnica valley, right bank of river Koritnica, next to the trail along the river upstream from settlement Možnica, East Julian Alps (Posočje, Slovenia)notes Slo.: muholiko mačje uho - syn.: Ophrys muscifera Huds - Habitat: river bank composed of partly overgrown stony calcareous ground, partly scree, light mixed forest but quite open place, Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica, Pinus nigra, Fraxinus ornus dominant trees; flat terrain to moderately steep, east oriented mountain slope, half shade, high air humidity but mostly dry ground, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 535-545 m (1.750-1.800 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: stony soil. - Comment: Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera belongs to a genus, which has very interestingly shaped flowers. The plants simulate different insects by the shape of their flowers and in this way deceive them. The insects try to 'copulate' with the flowers and in this way transport pollen from plant to plant. However, self-pollination is also frequent phenomenon and such is also Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera. - Genus Ophrysis is typically a warmth loving Mediterranean floral element, but some species, like Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera, grow also in the Alps and also much more to the north. The genus is very differently treated by different botanists. Some distinguish over 200 species and subspecies; others recognize only a fraction of this number. In general distinguishing among them is a hard nut even for specialists due to large variability of the shape, colors and hairiness of the flowers. In addition, many fertile hybrids between species and also among hybrids themselves exist. Fortunately, Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera is an easily recognized exception in this mess. Its typical anterior lip, which is distinctly tripartite, with its deeply cleft middle section, is a reliable trait, which distinguishes Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera from all other species of the genus. - Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera can be found scattered in all regions of the Alps, but it is nowhere near a common plant. In Austria, north of us, for example, it is considered very rare, highly endangered and in some parts of the country assumed extinct. Also our atlas Ref.:(5) doesn't shows many alpine UTM squares (compared to other regions of Slovenia), where it has been found up to now. All the more I was happy to find this tiny plant in 2013 also in Koritnica valley deeoly in the Julian Alps on at least five different places. Almost twenty plants were blooming on a stretch of river bank not much longer than 1 km, usually growing solitary or in groups of two or three plants. - Protected according to 'Uredba o zavarovanih prostoživečih rastlinskih vrstah' Url. RS, št. 46/2004 (Regulation of protection of wild growing plants, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, No.:46/2004). Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by 'V' representing a vulnerable species. - Ref.: (1) H. Baumann, S. Kuenkele, R. Lorenz, Orchideen Europas, Ulmer (2006), p 170. (2) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora Österreich Liechtenstein, Südtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 1045. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 2., Haupt (2004), p 1138. (4) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnična Založba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovene), p 776. (5) N. Jogan (ed.), Gradivo za Atlas flore Slovenije (Materials for the Atlas of Flora of Slovenia), CKSF (2001), p 261. (6) H. Haeupler, T. Muer, Bildatlas der Farn- und Bluetenpflazen Deutschlands, Ulmer (2000), p 707.camera Nikon D700 / Nikkor Micro 105mm/f2.8
contributor's ID # Bot_724/2013_DSC6578 photo category: Plant - annual/perennial
|
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT
|
| common names
Fly Orchid (photographer)
View all photos in CalPhotos of Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera Check Google Images for Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera |
|
The photographer's identification Ophrys insectifera ssp. insectifera has not been reviewed. Click here to review or comment on the identification. |
|
Using this photo The thumbnail photo (128x192 pixels) on this page may be freely used for personal or academic purposes without prior permission under the Fair Use provisions of US copyright law as long as the photo is clearly credited with © 2014 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy.
For other uses, or if you have questions, contact Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy amadej.trnkoczy[AT]siol.net. (Replace the [AT] with the @ symbol before sending an email.) |
|
|