Current and expected changes in global climate are major threat for biological diversity affecting individuals, communities and ecosystems. However, there is no general trend in the plants response to the climate change. The aim of present study was to evaluate impact of the future climate changes on the distribution of holomycotrophic orchid species using ecological niche modeling approach. Three different scenarios of future climate changes were tested to obtain the most comprehensive insight in the possible habitat loss of 16 holomycotrophic orchids. The extinction of Cephalanthera austiniae was predicted in all analyses. The coverage of suitable niches of Pogoniopsis schenckii will decrease to 1–30% of its current extent. The reduction of at least 50% of climatic niche of Erythrorchis cassythoides and Limodorum abortivum will be observed. In turn, the coverage of suitable niches of Hexalectris spicata, Uleiorchis ulaei and Wullschlaegelia calcarata may be even 16–74 times larger than in the present time. The conducted niche modeling and analysis of the similarity of their climatic tolerance showed instead that the future modification of the coverage of their suitable niches will not be unified and the future climate changes may be not so harmful for holomycotrophic orchids as expected.

The location of possible glacial refugia of six Apostasioideae representatives is estimated based on ecological niche modeling analysis. The distribution of their suitable niches during the last glacial maximum (LGM) is compared with their current potential and documented geographical ranges. The climatic factors limiting the studied species occurrences are evaluated and the niche overlap between the studied orchids is assessed and discussed. The predicted niche occupancy profiles and reconstruction of ancestral climatic tolerances suggest high level of phylogenetic niche conservatism within Apostasioideae.

A taxonomic synopsis of the orchid genus Habenaria in New Guinea and adjacent islands is presented. We confirmed the occurrence of 27 Habenaria species in study area. Sixteen of these are endemic and were not so far found outside New Guinea. Morphological characteristics and illustrations of floral segments of taxa are presented. One new species of Habenaria is described. Four neotypes are selected. An updated key to species groups and species occurring in the study area is provided. The importance of diagnostic floral characters in Habenaria is discussed.

Abstract.A new species of the genus Habenella Small is described based on material collected in Nepal. The novelty resembles H. anomaliflora Kurzweil & Chantanaorr., from which it differs by the presence of a single leaf, oblong-lanceolate lip, ovate lateral sepals with a somewhat oblique base, and oblong-lanceolate petals. An identification key for representatives of Habenaria s.l. reported from Nepal is included.

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There are many studies on the biology, ecology and infrageneric classification of the cosmopolitan orchid genus Habenaria. However, there are few data on the seed morphology of species in this genus. The aim of this study was to analyse the seed morphology of Habenaria and related taxa (111 species in total). The species of Habenaria s.l. studied are mostly characterized by a scobiform seed, but the form of individual seed coat cells varies between and among some species. In most of the species analysed, the cell walls are arranged mostly along the main axis of a seed. The size of the embryos and the volume of seeds and embryos also varied in Habenaria. The periclinal wall of the cells in the seed coat of most of the taxa examined is smooth, but there are several species with distinct ornamentation on this wall (slanting ridges, transverse ridges, reticulate ridges). The periclinal wall could be used in taxonomic delimitations, especially when combined with additional features such as seed size, shape and arrangement of the cells in the seed coat. Although many of the morphological groups in Habenaria s.l. were included in this study, no qualitative seed characters that could be helpful in establishing an alternative infrageneric division of this taxon were previously recognized.

The aim of the paper is to present materials to the taxonomic revision of the African orchid genus Bilabrella Lindl., based on herbarium materials, specimens conserved in FAA as well as literature. It was compiled using classical taxonomic methods. The research involved determining differences between Bilabrella and other genera of Habenariinae in Africa. Its morphological structure was analysed and key features for the generic taxonomy defined. An infrageneric classification is proposed. A full description of each species and distribution data are provided. The ecological requirements and phenology of all species have been assembled and systematized.

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