A Revision of the Taxonomy and Identification of Epipactis greuteri (Orchidaceae, Neottieae)

Abstract

Epipactis greuteri is an obligate autogamous orchid species. Due to large differences in the interpretation of the diagnosis of this species, it is often mistakenly identified by botanists, which results in erroneous information provided in the literature about its distribution in Europe. In the present paper we review its description, including flower details, gynostemium features, and papillae morphology and compare it to E. helleborine, with which it is often confused. Based on thorough study of herbarium material (including holotype and isotype) and field research in Greece, Romania, and Poland, we confirm that gynostemium of E. greuteri has strongly reduced clinandrium and does not produce viscidium. We also discuss taxonomic treatment of E. preinensis and E. flaminia, two recently described taxa related to E. greuteri. The results of genetic analyses, as well as the range of phenotypic variability of E. greuteri individuals from various regions of Europe were presented and discussed. The analysis based on the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) nuclear marker showed no differences among E. helleborine, E. purpurata, E. albensis, and E. greuteri, which probably indicates their close relationship. Based on the analysis of plastid regions, six haplotypes were detected in all investigated samples. An exhaustive description of morphological features of E. greuteri is provided.

Epipactis tremolsii Seed Diversity in Two Close but Extremely Different Populations: Just a Case of Intraspecific Variability?

“…The taxonomy in Epipactis is still controversial, and the taxonomic treatment of entities belonging to this genus results is often difficult [ 17 ]. Nevertheless, seed size diversity alone does not allow to propose a taxonomic split nor the identification of an E. tremolsii ecotype corresponding to PPS.…”

“…Seed traits have been used in both ecological and taxonomic studies, especially in the genus Epipactis Zinn [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Species boundaries in Epipactis are difficult to define [ 13 , 17 ] and its taxonomy is controversial at the point that the taxonomic treatment of some taxonomic units may vary depending on different authors [ 17 ].…”

Orchidaceae-Derived Anticancer Agents: A Review

“…The diversity of orchids and superficial similarity of related species often leads to erroneous identification of taxa [91,92]. The detailed studies on various orchids revealed that numerous commonly recognized species are actually species-complexes that include several distinct species [93][94][95].…”