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Morphometric study of genus Epipactis in Slovenia
Morfometrična analiza rodu Epipactis v Sloveniji
a N k a k u h e l j
1
, N e j c j o g a N
2
1
  Reboljeva 3, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija
2
  Oddelek za biologijo Biotehniška Fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani, Večna pot 111, 
SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija; anka.kuhelj@yahoo.co.uk; nejc.jogan@bf.uni-lj.si
Helleborines (Epipactis), a genus of orchids (Orchidaceae s.lat.), are taxonomically 
quite a demanding group due to their extreme variability. This variability arises out of 
reproduction modes which are autogamy, cleistogamy and apomixis. Various habitats, in 
which helleborines grow, are just another contribution to it. Interspecific hybrids do appear 
as well, however it is not known enough about them yet. Hence also the classification of the 
genus is not completely unambiguous.
According to Mala flora Slovenije (N. Jogan and A. Martinčič et al., 2007), there are 
eleven species with four subspecies growing in Slovenia. They are E. atrorubens, E. greuteri, 
E. helleborine ssp. helleborine, E. helleborine ssp. leutei, E. helleborine ssp. orbicularis, 
E. latina, E. leptochila ssp. leptochila, E. leptochila ssp. neglecta, E. microphylla, E. 
muelleri, E. nordeniorum, E. palustris, E. pontica and E. purpurata. In order to find useful 
distinguishing features among them, a morphometric analysis was made. Concerning 
literature and preliminary revision of herbarium material (LJU), 62 potentially useful 
characters were chosen. Morphometric observations were made in the field on 41 locations 
on 289 OTU. Additional research on 45 flowers, each of them was from one of the visited 
locality, was conducted in the laboratory.
As it has been expected, the most information is hidden in the shape of structures. 
Measurements only do not give satisfactory results. The shape of labellum and gynostemium 
and the presence of clinandrium and viscidum seem to be the most reliable features. 
However, still much work needs to be done not only in the field of morphometry; also 
distribution of taxa and their ecology are not well understood.
a n k a ku h e l j & n e j c jo g a n : Morfometrična analiza rodu Epipactis v Sloveniji