Orchid flora of the Muntele Mic (Caraş – Severin Country, Romania) BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (2) ⚫ December 2016: 107-112 Milanovici, S. ⚫ The orchid flora of the Muntele Mic… 107 Original Article Received: 25 June 2018 Revised: 28 Sptember 2018 Accepted: 18 November 2018* The orchid flora of the Muntele Mic (Caraş – Severin County, Romania) Sretco Milanovici Natural Science Section, Banat National Museum, Huniade Square no. 1, Timișoara City, Timiș County, Romania * E-mail: milanovici.sretco@wildcarpathiangarden.com Abstract: Milanovici, S.: The orchid flora of the Muntele Mic (Caraş – Severin County, Romania). Biologica Nyssana, 7 (2), December 2016: 107-112. Muntele Mic Mountain is located in the southwestern part of Romania and belongs to the Southern Carpathians. Although relatively small, Muntele Mic contains most of typical mountain and high-mountain habitats. The field research regarding the orchid’s family in the Muntele Mic area, have started in the summer of 2009. Owing to easy access (asphalt road that goes to the tourist center of Muntele Mic), although it is classified as part of the European Natura 2000 network (ROSCI0126 Munţii Ţarcu), the area is influenced by negative anthropogenic factors. Although considered to be a very anthropized area, the field research concluded that there are 10 species of orchids growing in this location, of which three: Gymnadenia frivaldii Hampe ex Griseb., Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó and Dactylorhiza saccifera (Brongn.) Soó), were not mentioned in the literature data. Key words: orchids, conservation, threats, Muntele Mic, Romania Apstrakt: Milanovici, S.: Flora orhideja planine Muntele Mic (Caraş – Severin County, Romania). Biologica Nyssana, 7 (2), Decembar 2016: 107-112. Planina Muntele Mic nalazi se u jugozapadnom delu Rumunije i pripada južnim Karpatima. Iako relativno male površine, Muntele Mic sadrži većinu karakterističnih planinskih i visokoplaninskih staništa. Sistematska terenska istraživanja porodice orhideja planine Muntele Mic, započeta su u proleće 2009 godine. Zahvaljujući lakom pristupu (asfaltni put koji ide do turističkog centra Muntele Mic), iako svrstan kao deo mreže Natura 2000 - ROSCI0126 Munţii Ţarcu, pod snažnim je udarom negativnih faktora antropogenog porekla. Iako se smatra veoma antropizovanim, terenskim istraživanjem konstatovano je da ovde raste 10 vrsta orhideja, od čega se tri: Gymnadenia frivaldii Hampe ex Griseb., Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó i Dactylorhiza saccifera (Brongn.) Soó), ne pominju u stručnoj literaturi. Ključne reči: orhideje, problemi zaštite, Muntele Mic, Rumunija Introduction According to “Flora României” (vol. VII, P a u c a et al., in S a v u l e s c u , 1972) there are 56 orchid species growing in Romania. In the last decades, some taxa, formerly classified as subspecies, became species per se (a typical example is several species of the Epipactis genus). In 2009 Ciocârlan mentioned 7 (2) • December 2016: 107-112 12th SFSES • 16-19 June 2016, Kopaonik Mt DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.2528264 BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (2) ⚫ December 2016: 107-112 Milanovici, S. ⚫ The orchid flora of the Muntele Mic… 108 58 orchid species recorded for the Romanian flora (C i o c â r l a n , 2009), while according to Sârbu this number reaches 60 (S â r b u et al., 2013). Three more species are to be added to the last figure mentioned: Epipactis guegelii Robatsch (R o b a t s c h , 1996), Epipactis persica (Soó) Hausskn. ex Nannf. (W u c h e r p f e n n i g , 2008) and Epipactis greuteri H. Baumann et Künkele (A r d e l e a n , 2011). So far, the total amount of orchid species recorded in Romania is 62. We do not regard this figure as final. In his reference work B o ş c a i u (1971) mentions 16 orchid species for the Muntele Mic area. The geographical unity of Ţarcu Mountains, whose part is the Muntele Mic, cover the North- Western Region of Meridional Carpathian Mountains. Material and methods The field studies on the Orchidaceae L. family in the Muntele Mic Mountain area, regarding the species richness, distribution, size and dynamics of populations as well as the acknowledgment of the threats with (direct and indirect) impact upon the orchid species and populations have started in 2009 and ended in 2015 (Fig. 1, 2b). The main bibliography related to the Muntele Mic Mountain, started with the basic studies: B o ș c a i u (1971) and P a u c a et al., in S a v u l e s c u – “Flora R. S. România”, Vol. XII, (1972). To understand the biology and ecology of terrestrial orchid species, literature data of D r e s s l e r (1981, 1983) and R a s m u s s e n (1995) were used. The determination of taxa up to the species level has been done based on the data provided by “Flora of The S. R. Romania” Vol. XII (P a u c a et al., in S a v u l e s c u , 1972) and the nomenclature of used taxa has been harmonized to World Checklist of Monocotyledons Database (2003). Also, other relevant literary sources used (S o ó , 1973; M o o r e , 1980; D e l f o r g e , 2006; C i o c â r l a n , 2009) and related websites have been used. The area where the field studies were conducted covers only the zone of the alpine meadows, spruce and beech forests, along the mixed ones, mesophilic mountain meadows (especially those located in the upper part of the Craiu Valley) to the lowest altitude of 600 m. Results and discussion The herein presented studies on the orchid species comprised the area of Muntele Mic, from an altitude of 600 m to the top of the mountain. Although in his reference work B o ş c a i u (1971) mentioned 16 orchid species for the Muntele Mic zone, we have no Fig. 1. Geographical position of the Muntele Mic investigated area. BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (2) ⚫ December 2016: 107-112 Milanovici, S. ⚫ The orchid flora of the Muntele Mic… 109 field confirmation (in the researched zone above 600 m) for seven species, namely: Listera ovata (L.) R.Br., Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Rchb., Anacamptis palustris subsp. elegans (Heuff.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Anacamptis coriophora (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Orchis mascula subsp. signifera (Vest) Soó and Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Neotinea ustulata (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase. Instead, in the lower meadows area (Borlova zone) and beech forests, below 600 m, one can notice the presence of most of the species mentioned above. The fieldwork recorded the presence of three orchid species, not mentioned in the relevant literature (esp Boşcaiu, 1971) for the Muntele Mic zone, specifically Leucorchis friwaldskiana (Hampe) Fuss, Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó and Dactylorhiza saccifera (Brongn.) Soó. In the following text, a description is given for each species confirmed in the fieldwork of the present study (Muntele Mic zone, above 600 m elevation): The genus Dactyloriza Neck. ex Nevski. Dactylorhiza cordigera (Fr.) Soó Habitat: it sprouts individually or in groups of up to dozens of specimen on the eastern slope of the mountain, on wet meadows, on the banks of the torrents coming down from the mountain or in bogs, at an altitude between 1450 and 1600 m (Fig. 2a); Status of population: population is relatively large and stabile. Following the multiannual countering, one can find at least 500 blooming specimens (mostly on the eastern slope of Muntele Mic); Threats: over pasturing, leveling of the meadows for skiing tracks, off road motorcycling. Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó Habitat: sporadic and very rare; it had been found in a small number of specimens on the upper part of Valea Craiu, at the confluence of Craiu and Cuntu streams, at the edge of the forest, 610 m in altitude; Status of population: population comprises around 20 specimens; Threats: deforestation along removal of timber logs and their storage along the road; Observation: newly found species for the Muntele Mic zone. Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soó Habitat: sporadic and very rare; it had been found in a small number of specimens in the mesophilic meadow at the confluence of Craiu and Cuntu streams, 610 m in altitude (Fig. 2c); Status of population: population comprises around 20 specimens; Threats: deforestation along removal of timber logs and their storage along the road. Dactylorhiza viridis (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase (syn. Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hartm.) Habitat: very rare; a number of 5 specimens had been found, on shadowy rocks (northern exposure), on the eastern slope of the mountain; altitude: 1600 m; Status of population: population comprises maximum 10 specimens; Threats: intensive pasture. Dactylorhiza saccifera (Brongn.) Soó Habitat: found individually or in groups of up to ten specimens at the forest edge (near the paved road that climbs toward Muntele Mic resort), from Valea Sebeşului (600 m) along wet meadows from climbing road and the bottom of meadows on the eastern slope of the mountain, on an altitude between 600 and 1.400 m (Fig. 2g); Status of population: a fairly numerous population, comprising around 200 specimens; Threats: intensive pasture, deforestation along removal of timber logs and their storage along the road, off road motorcycling; Observation: newly found species for the Muntele Mic zone. The genus Neottia Guett. Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich. Habitat: found individually or in groups of up to ten specimens in beech or mixed beech – spruce forests, preponderantly below 600 m altitude. As the altitude grows, the specimen became increasingly rare. Some rare specimen have been detected on the eastern slope of Muntele Mic, about 800 m altitude , in the mixed beech – spruce forest; Status of population: a very numerous population, comprising around 300 specimens (above 600 m); Threats: deforestation along removal of timber logs, pasture on forest ground. The genus Gymnadenia Rich. Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R.Br. Habitat: very rare; a few specimens were found on the alpine meadows on the eastern slope, at an altitude between 1.300 and 1.500 m; Status of population: given the reduced number of found specimen, one cannot correctly assess the size BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (2) ⚫ December 2016: 107-112 Milanovici, S. ⚫ The orchid flora of the Muntele Mic… 110 Fig. 2: a) Dactylorhiza cordigera (Fr.) Soó (photo: 18.06.2009); b) Muntele Mic – general view (photo: 05.06.2015); c) Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soó (photo: 18.06.2009); d) Gymnadenia frivaldii Hampe ex Griseb. (photo: 18.06.2009); e) Pseudorchis albida (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve (photo: 18.06.2009); f) Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (photo: 20.08.2015); g) Dactylorhiza saccifera (Brongn.) Soó (photo: 18.06.2009). BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (2) ⚫ December 2016: 107-112 Milanovici, S. ⚫ The orchid flora of the Muntele Mic… 111 of the population (taking also into account the dormancy, frequently met with the terrestrial orchid species); Threats: over pasturing, leveling of meadows for skiing tracks, off road motorcycling. Gymnadenia frivaldii Hampe ex Griseb. Habitat: a relatively large population was identified in a single area on Muntele Mic (on a surface of about 50 sq m), on the eastern slope, in a mesophyllic alpine meadow, 1.460 m altitude (Fig. 2d); Status of population: the population is relatively numerous, concentrated on a very small surface and comprises some 200 bloomy specimens; Threats: extremely threatened by over pasture; not far from the habitat of this species, a farm was built two years ago; the species is also threatened by off road motorcycling. Observation: newly found species for the Muntele Mic zone. The genus Pseudorchis Ség. Pseudorchis albida (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve Habitat: a very small number of specimens were found on the eastern slope, 1400 m altitude (Fig. 2e); Status of population: very rare; a total of six bloomy specimens, in different locations and different years; Threats: extremely threatened by over pasture, the more so as closely to its habitat a sheepfold was installed 2 years ago; the species is also threatened by off road motorcycling. The genus Epipactis Zinn Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz Habitat: a relatively large population of some 200 specimens was found in a small spruce forest, near a torrent, on the border of the alpine meadows. It is interesting that in the lower areas, although the habitat is friendlier to this species, not a single specimen had been identified (Fig. 2f); Status of population: relative large population, comprising some 200 specimens (around 1200 m altitude); the entire population is concentrated on some 100 sq m; Threats: pasturing on forest ground (closely to its habitat a sheepfold was installed 2 years ago) and technical improvements for a skiing track. Conclusion Although relatively isolated from Tarcu Mt range (to which it belongs to), Muntele Mic Mt contains most of the typical high-mountain habitats. Field studies on the orchid species and their populations started in 2009 and ended in 2015. Since the investigated area comprised area above 600 m a.s.l. up to the highest peak of the Muntele Mic Mt (1802 m a.s.l.), the number of recorded species was 10, which was lower than number recorded by Boșcaiu (1971). However, the herein presented results revealed the existance of three new species for Muntele Mic Mt, namely Gymnadenia frivaldii, Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Dactylorhiza saccifera. The Dactylorhiza cordigera species, according to multiannual monitoring, presents the largest population (at least 500 bloomy specimens, most of them on the east slope of Muntele Mic). The rarest species are: Pseudorchis albida, Gymnadenia conopsea (!?), Dactylorhiza viridis, Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Dactylorhiza maculata, as the number of specimens for each of these species is up to 20. Considering the easy access up the mountain (asphalted road to Muntele Mic resort), the existing habitats are subject to an extremely severe negative anthropogenic impact. The greatest threats to the species and their habitats come from leveling of the meadows for skiing tracks and adjacent infrastructure, unfortunately highly aggressive and irreversible (including the south western part). 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In agreement with the reviewers, the editor decided to approve resubmission of the manuscript and publication in the same issue of the journal.