Advance in Orchidaceae Research

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2022) | Viewed by 24136

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Kanonia 6/8, PL-50-328 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: Orchidaceae; Epipactis; plant ecology; plant taxonomy; nature conservation; distribution patterns

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Guest Editor
C411, Dept. of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, PL-80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: Orchidaceae; orchid taxonomy; biodiversity and ecology; nature conservation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue entitled: “Advance in Orchidaceae Research” is dedicated to researchers of biology, ecology and taxonomy of orchids, but also other aspects of the life of these plants.

The orchid family (Orchidaceae) is the second largest family of flowering plants, which contains about 1,000 genera and almost 35,000-40,000 species and new taxa are still being discovered and described. Orchidaceae are a cosmopolitan plant group, its representatives occupy almost all continents and almost all of the world's climatic zones. The wide range of habitats occupied along with the large area of occurrence has contributed to the enormous diversity of orchids in almost all respects and influenced the relatively high percentage of endemics in this group of plants. This is why, when consider at species level, they are extremely threatened plant group.

This Special Issue aims to gather the current knowledge on various aspects of the biology and ecology of orchids, including problems with taxonomy and classification. We invite researchers to submit review articles, full-length original papers, communications, short overviews, or comments presenting the various aspects of orchid biology, ecology, taxonomy and classification, including articles establishing new nomenclature, new taxa and new names. Papers on other aspects of orchid life (also concerning floras, especially in mostly endangered regions, e.g. tropical) may also be published.

Dr. Anna Jakubska-Busse
Dr. Hanna Margońska
Guest Editors

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Keywords

orchidaceae

biology

ecology

systematics

evolution

phylogeography

taxonomy and nomenclature

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 2245 KiB  
Article
Jewel Orchid’s Biology and Physiological Response to Aquaponic Water as a Potential Fertilizer
by Ganka Chaneva, Alexander Tomov, Momchil Paunov, Viktoria Hristova, Valentina Ganeva, Nikolina Mihaylova, Svetoslav Anev, Nikolay Krumov, Zhenya Yordanova, Boris Tsenov, Valya Vassileva, Georgi Bonchev and Miroslava Zhiponova
Plants 2022, 11(22), 3181; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223181 - 21 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2519
Abstract
Ludisia discolor is commonly known as a jewel orchid due to its variegated leaves. Easy maintenance of the orchid allows it to be used as a test system for various fertilizers and nutrient sources, including aquaponic water (AW). First, we applied DNA barcoding [...] Read more.
Ludisia discolor is commonly known as a jewel orchid due to its variegated leaves. Easy maintenance of the orchid allows it to be used as a test system for various fertilizers and nutrient sources, including aquaponic water (AW). First, we applied DNA barcoding to assess the taxonomic identity of this terrestrial orchid and to construct phylogenetic trees. Next, the vegetative organs (leaf, stem, and root) were compared in terms of the level of metabolites (reducing sugars, proteins, anthocyanins, plastid pigments, phenolics, and antioxidant activity) and nutrient elements (carbon, nitrogen, sodium, and potassium), which highlighted the leaves as most functionally active organ. Subsequently, AW was used as a natural source of fish-derived nutrients, and the orchid growth was tested in hydroponics, in irrigated soil, and in an aquaponic system. Plant physiological status was evaluated by analyzing leaf anatomy and measuring chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. These results provided evidence of the beneficial effects of AW on the jewel orchid, including increased leaf formation, enhanced chlorophyll content and photosystems’ productivity, and stimulated and prolonged flowering. The information acquired in the present study could be used in addressing additional aspects of the growth and development of the jewel orchid, which is also known for its medicinal value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Orchidaceae Research)
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14 pages, 1999 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Orchidaceae Diversity in the Pululahua Reserve, Ecuador: Opportunities and Constraints as Regards the Biodiversity Conservation of the Cloud Mountain Forest
by Mariana Mites, Herminia García-Mozo, Carmen Galán and Edwin Oña
Plants 2022, 11(5), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11050698 - 4 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2805
Abstract
The Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve is a protected natural area in the cloud mountain forest of Ecuador, so rich in orchid species despite being a volcanic area still under threat of volcanic activity. A comparative biodiversity study of orchids was carried out in two [...] Read more.
The Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve is a protected natural area in the cloud mountain forest of Ecuador, so rich in orchid species despite being a volcanic area still under threat of volcanic activity. A comparative biodiversity study of orchids was carried out in two different sectors, Chaupisacha (CH) and La Reventazón (LR). Data were collected in 1 ha plots in each sector, in which all the orchids found were counted and two individuals of each species were retained. Immature individuals were conserved in a plant nursery until flowering. In CH, there were 922 individuals grouped into 24 genera and 55 species, while LR had 9196 individuals grouped into 26 genera and 46 species; only 14 species were found in both sectors. Different density and diversity indexes were calculated. The density (ind./100 m2) of CH was 0.96, while that of LR was 185.92. Simpson’s diversity (1 − λ) attained CH 0.903 ± 0.01 and LR 0.85 ± 0.01. The orchid diversity measured by the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′) was 1.29 for CH, differing significantly from that of LR (H′ 1.02). The medium equity (Jaccard’s J′) found was 0.61 in CH and 90.78 in LR. Limitations as regards the natural dispersion of orchids seemed to favor endemism. Some species, such as Dracula felix and Restrepia guttulate, are threatened with disappearance from the wild or are vulnerable, as is the case for Epidendrum polyanthogastrium. A lack of information on the phenology and anthropic impacts in the area limit the conservation of species, signifying that new protected figures and seed banks are necessary, especially in CH, owing to its high diversity of orchids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Orchidaceae Research)
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26 pages, 9664 KiB  
Article
Crepidium sect. Crepidium (Orchidaceae, Malaxidinae)—Chemical and Morphological Study of Flower Structures in the Context of Pollination Processes
by Hanna B. Margońska, Małgorzata Kozieradzka-Kiszkurno, Emilia Brzezicka, Łukasz P. Haliński, Kevin L. Davies and Monika M. Lipińska
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2373; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112373 - 4 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2768
Abstract
Crepidium is a large genus of mainly pantropical orchids. The lips of its flowers are upwardly directed and do not serve as landing platforms for pollinators. This role is assumed by the dorsal sepal and/or gynostemium. Information about the pollination and floral morphology [...] Read more.
Crepidium is a large genus of mainly pantropical orchids. The lips of its flowers are upwardly directed and do not serve as landing platforms for pollinators. This role is assumed by the dorsal sepal and/or gynostemium. Information about the pollination and floral morphology of this genus is scarce. To date, no papers have been published on these topics. Field observations have revealed that the flowers are visited by small flies, midges, fruit flies, other small dipterans, ants, spiders, and mites. Preliminary observations revealed at least two forms of small liquid droplets secreted on the lip surface of Crepidium species: simple secretions from epidermal cells, and cell sap released upon the rupturing of raphide-producing cells. Further research revealed that this was the first time liquid secretion was recorded in this genus. Floral secretions were subjected to sequential organic solvent extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Floral parts were investigated by means of scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and histochemical tests. The presence of liquid droplets on the lip of Crepidium, the presence of a food reward, and the sequence of raphide development are reported here for the first time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Orchidaceae Research)
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14 pages, 2441 KiB  
Article
Projected Status of the Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) in Florida during the Next Decade Based on Temporal Dynamic Studies Spanning Six Years
by Ernesto B. Mújica, Adam R. Herdman, Mark W. Danaher, Elaine H. González and Lawrence W. Zettler
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1579; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081579 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5666
Abstract
The enigmatic ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii (Lindley) Bentham ex Rolfe, is a showy leafless epiphyte restricted to low-lying forests in south Florida and western Cuba. Because of its appeal and reputation for being difficult to cultivate, D. lindenii remains vulnerable to poaching and [...] Read more.
The enigmatic ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii (Lindley) Bentham ex Rolfe, is a showy leafless epiphyte restricted to low-lying forests in south Florida and western Cuba. Because of its appeal and reputation for being difficult to cultivate, D. lindenii remains vulnerable to poaching and environmental changes. About 2000 individuals are assumed to remain in Florida, most confined within water-filled cypress domes in the Fakahatchee Strand, but virtually no information exists on current population numbers throughout the region. This paper provides a preliminary summary of the ghost orchid’s projected status based on six continuous years of data collected within the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (FPNWR) from 2015–2020. The orchids were clustered in seven different populations, each separated by ca. 5 km. Quantitative data were collected spanning three age classes (seedlings, juveniles, mature plants) for each population, and survival, flowering, and fruiting were noted. To estimate the temporal variability in the demographic rates, size-structured integral projection models (IPMs) were constructed for each annual transition (e.g., 2015–2016, 2016–2017). Results for all seven populations pooled suggest that D. lindenii numbers will decline by 20% during the next decade in the absence of external adverse factors. Seedling recruitment is not expected to keep pace with the projected decline. Only one population, which was also from the wettest location, continuously harbored spontaneous seedlings, suggesting that most populations within the FPNWR lack conditions suitable for reproduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Orchidaceae Research)
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Review

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19 pages, 7770 KiB  
Review
Mesoamerican Cypripedium: Mycorrhizal Contributions to Promote Their Conservation as Critically Endangered Species
by Mauricio Moreno-Camarena and María Pilar Ortega-Larrocea
Plants 2022, 11(12), 1554; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121554 - 12 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2553
Abstract
In the valuable orchid genus Cypripedium, the section Irapeana consists of a distinctive group of Mesoamerican species that is formed by Cypripedium dickinsonianum Hágsater, C. irapeanum Lex., and C. molle Lindl. All lady slipper orchids exhibit different distributions and abundances. Data analysis [...] Read more.
In the valuable orchid genus Cypripedium, the section Irapeana consists of a distinctive group of Mesoamerican species that is formed by Cypripedium dickinsonianum Hágsater, C. irapeanum Lex., and C. molle Lindl. All lady slipper orchids exhibit different distributions and abundances. Data analysis that used herbarium accessions and field investigations indicated that the habitats of these three species have been dramatically reduced. Prospecting for suitable habitats based on climatic, vegetation, and soil parameters allows us to predict potential distributions. Conservation strategies, such as ex situ propagation by asymbiotic and symbiotic approaches, have indicated that the culture media used are a determining factor for seedling development. Mycorrhizal isolates play a main role in the compatibility and further development of germinated seeds. The fungi isolated from adult plants belong to two different families, which makes it possible that widely distributed C. irapeanum populations will be fungal-specific as well as restricted for C. molle. Root mycorrhization patterns occur high on the secondary roots. In contrast with other species of the genus, in situ germination can occur over a short period of two months, but we have documented periods as long as ten years. Cypripedium is a highly problematic genus for ex situ conservation because the germination requirements and cultures are poorly documented, and there is great urgency for in situ conservation to develop strategies for identifying hotspot habitats and actualize the protection status to avoid extinction of this genus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Orchidaceae Research)
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13 pages, 1239 KiB  
Review
The Epipactis helleborine Group (Orchidaceae): An Overview of Recent Taxonomic Changes, with an Updated List of Currently Accepted Taxa
by Zbigniew Łobas, Anatoliy Khapugin, Elżbieta Żołubak and Anna Jakubska-Busse
Plants 2021, 10(9), 1839; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091839 - 4 Sep 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3733
Abstract
The Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz group is one of the most taxonomically challenging species complexes within the genus Epipactis. Because of the exceptionally high levels of morphological variability and the ability to readily cross with other species, ninety different taxa at various [...] Read more.
The Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz group is one of the most taxonomically challenging species complexes within the genus Epipactis. Because of the exceptionally high levels of morphological variability and the ability to readily cross with other species, ninety different taxa at various taxonomic ranks have already been described within its nominative subspecies, but the taxonomic status of most of them is uncertain, widely disputed, and sometimes even irrelevant. The present review is based on results of the most recent research devoted to the E. helleborine group taxonomy. In addition, we analysed data about taxa belonging to this group presented in some research articles and monographs devoted directly to the genus Epipactis or to orchids in certain area(s). Based on the reviewed literature and data collected in four taxonomic databases available online, we propose an updated list of the 10 currently accepted taxa in the E. helleborine group (two species, six subspecies, and two varieties), which includes E. helleborine (L.) Crantz subsp. helleborine; E. helleborine subsp. bithynica (Robatsch) Kreutz; E. helleborine subsp. distans (Arv.-Touv.) R.Engel and P.Quentin; E. helleborine subsp. neerlandica (Verm.) Buttler; E. helleborine var. tangutica (Schltr.) S.C.Chen and G.H.Zhu; E. helleborine subsp. tremolsii (Pau) E.Klein; E. helleborine subsp. voethii (Robatsch) Jakubska-Busse, Żołubak, and Łobas, stat. nov.; E. condensata Boiss. ex D.P.Young; E. condensata var. kuenkeleana (Akhalk., H.Baumann, R.Lorenz, and Mosul.) Popovich; and E. cupaniana C.Brullo, D’Emerico, and Pulv. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Orchidaceae Research)
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