Orhideele Medicinale din Romania

This article reviews for the first time, the taxonomy of all Romanian orchid taxa known to date. It describes the morphology, pollination strategies, habitats, ecology and distribution of all genera, emphasizing the conservation and protection status of the most vulnerable, endangered species. This extensive, unique botanical study, undertaken between 2017-2023, resulted in a taxonomical evaluation of Romanian orchid flora, which is represented by 3 subfamilies and 26 genera that comprise approximately 76 species, 20 subspecies, 55 varieties and forms. Additionally, 14 intrageneric hybrids and 3 intergeneric hybrids are documented, out of which, two of those, such as × Pseudorhiza nieschalkii (Senghas) P.F.Hunt nothosubsp. siculorum H.Kertesz & N.Anghelescu, 2020, nothosubsp. nov. (IPNI LSID 77216534–1), are new to science. The species list remains open, with discoveries being made each year. Romanian endemic and rare taxa such as Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. transsilvanica, Dactylorhiza cordigera susbsp. siculorum, Epipactis danubialis and Epipactis guegelii are described in detail. Since 12 genera of Romanian orchids are deceptive and do not secrete any nectar or other food rewards for their pollinators, deceit pollination strategies are greatly emphasized in this review. Various mimicry strategies and deception mechanisms such as generalized food deception (Anacamptis, Dactylorhiza), food-deceptive (Batesian) floral mimicry (Traunsteinera), brood/nest-site mimicry (Malaxis), shelter mimicry (Cypripedium), rendezvous attraction (Anacamptis papilionacea), sexual deceptive mimicry (Ophrys), are also described. Unlike other European countries where some species are very rare or even extinct, in Romania, they are still well represented by numerous populations that occur in relatively constant numbers. Nevertheless, I thought it is imperious to draw readers’ attention to the vulnerability of Romanian orchids and the numerous dangers, which threaten their existence mainly due to habitat loss (anthropogenic factors)