Epipactis condensata Boiss. ex D.P.Young subsp. condensata

Fateryga, Alexander V., Fateryga, Valentina V. & Efimov, Petr G., 2014, Epipactis krymmontana (Orchidaceae), a new species endemic to the Crimean Mountains and notes on the related taxa in the Crimea and bordering Russian Caucasus, Phytotaxa 172 (1), pp. 22-30 : 27-28

Epipactis condensata Boiss. ex D.P.Young subsp. condensata

Epipactis condensata Boissier ex Young (1970: 106) .

Type (from the original designation):— TURKEY. Izmir Province: Bounarbachi [Pinarbaşi], prope Smyrnam [Izmir], 26 June 1854, Balansa 779 (sub nom. Epipactis microphylla var. congesta ) (holotype G 00330015!; isotype LE!). ≡ Epipactis condensata Boisser (1859: 91) pro syn. ≡ Epipactis microphylla ( Ehrhart 1789: 42) Swartz (1800: 232) var. congesta Boisser (1882: 89) . ≡ Epipactis helleborine ( Linnaeus 1753: 949) Crantz (1769: 467) subsp. condensata (Boiss. ex D.P.Young) Sundermann (1980: 41) .

This species occurs in Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, western Syria and the Krasnodar region of Russia ( Kreutz 1998, 2003, 2004b, Delforge 2006, Efimov 2008). The presence of E. condensata in the Crimea is questionable. As stated above, most specimens previously identified as E. condensata were in fact E. krymmontana . As a result, the only remaining historic basis for the presence of E. condensata in the Crimea is the collection from Mt Karadag; however, the recent collection from Mt Lapata in the Crimea might also be this species. The herbarium collections from Mt Karadag may be referable to E. turcica (these species are with difficulty distinguished in herbaria). The specimens from Mt Lapata are more similar to E. condensata (a strong, tall plant with several flowering stems, long dense inflorescences, and pubescent ovaries) but were collected in fruit, and identification will be confirmed only when they are found flowering. The main feature of both collections, which is consistent with the plants being E. condensata , is their habitat (dry, hot places in full sunshine with sparse vegetation). The presence of E. condensata in the Russian Caucasus (Novorossiysk District, vicinity of Verkhne-Bakanskiy) was confirmed by the new finding of this species ( Averyanova 2013a) with photos exhibiting all its characters, which are important to distinguish it from E. krymmontana .

Specimens examined: — UKRAINE. Crimea: Mt Karadag , 25 June 1926, Transchel s.n. ( LE) ; Yalta Mountain Forest Reserve, Mt Lapata , 27 July 2013, Fateryga s.n. ( PHEO) . RUSSIA. Krasnodar Region: Adagum , 7 July 1906, Klopotov 52 ( LE) .

Epipactis condensata subsp. kuenkeleana (Akhalk., H.Baumann, R.Lorenz & Mosul.) Kreutz, Fateryga & Efimov , comb. nov.

Basionym: Epipactis viridiflora subsp. kuenkeleana Akhalkatsi, Baumann, Lorenz & Mosulishvili in Baumann & Lorenz (2005: 711).

Type (from the original designation):— GEORGIA. Kartli: Ghulelebi, Sabaduri, 1320 m, 30 July 2003, Akahalkatsi, Lorenz & Mosulishvili s.n. (holotype STU 34863/2011; isotypes TBI, TGM) ≡ Epipactis purpurata Smith (1828: 41) subsp. kuenkeleana (Akhalk., H.Baumann, R.Lorenz & Mosul.) Kreutz (2006: 93) .

This subspecies differs from typical E. condensata only in its relatively broad leaves suffused with violet or purple. On the other hand, it clearly differs from E. purpurata in its pubescent ovaries and crenate bosses near the base of the epichile. Thus, it must be regarded as a subspecies of E. condensata , not E. purpurata . It differs from E. krymmontana in its pyriform ovaries, much brighter epichile, more protruding basal epichile bosses and presence of a viscidium. The subspecies is known from the Russian Caucasus (Tuapse) as described by Baumann & Lorenz (2005). Some of the new collections of E. condensata ( Popovich 2013) from Novorossiysk District (Mt Koldun in the vicinity of Balka and near Lake Soldatskoye) could also be E. condensata subsp. kuenkeleana .