STUDIES ON THE MORPHOLOGY, ANATOMY AND ECOLOGY OF OPHRYS LUTEA CAV. SUBSP. MINOR (GUSS.) O. DANESCH & E. DANESCH EX GÖLZ & H.R. REINHARD (ORCHIDACEAE) IN TURKEY

Abstract

In this study, morphological, anatomical and ecological characteristics of Ophrys lutea subsp. minor in Turkey were investigated. The plant material was collected from 30 different populations during 2010-2013. In all 19 morphological and 20 anatomical features were investigated, and habitat characteristics recorded. The soil samples were also collected from the plant sampling sites and subjected to an analysis for 18 characteristics. The minimum plant length was 69 mm and maximum 323 mm, minimum length of underground part was 29 mm, and maximum 49 mm, and the number of leaves varied between 1-10. The ecological characteristics revealed that O. lutea subsp. minor flourishes well from sea level to 800 m, and the most common habitats of O. lutea subsp. minor are rocky limestones, phrygana, macchie, olive gorves, woodland margins.