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Orchis anatolica Boiss. is a plant species that grows in the Mediterranean region and assumed to have an aphrodisiac property. This study investigates the effects of ingestion of dried O. anatolica root on the sexual behavior and weights of reproductive organs in adult male rats. Sexually active male rats were divided into two groups (control and experimental). O. anatolica root powder was orally administered to the experimental group in a daily dose of 1g/kg for thirty days. The sexual behavior was then monitored and compared between O. anatolica treated rats and control rats. Weights of reproductive organs and testosterone serum levels were, also, measured for both treated and control rats. O. anatolica root ingestion significantly reduced the mount, intromission, and ejaculation latencies. Also, a significant increase in the copulatory efficacy was reported. Weights of reproductive organs and testosterone serum levels were significantly increased in O. anatolica treated rats compared to controls. The present study concludes that continuous ingestion of O. anatolica root over a period of thirty days can improve the sexual motivation and performance in adult male rats. This effect can be ascribed to increased testosterone level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which found that large orchid populations alleviate harmful effects of extreme weather conditions on fruit set in Orchis purpurea and Neottia (Listera) ovata. It notes that there is much higher stability of fruit production in huge orchid populations in comparison to small populations. Also cited is the potential vulnerability of small orchid populations to increasingly changeable climate through highly unpredictable fruit-set patterns based on the results of the study.

Abstract: OrcPI is a class B MADS-box gene of Orchis italica (Orchidaceae), homologous of the PISTILLATA/GLOBOSA gene isolated in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum. Its role in determining petals and stamens is conserved in orchids, where it seems to be involved also in other functions, such as flower longevity and ovary development. The present study reports the genomic characterization of the OrcPI locus in O. italica including coding and noncoding regions (introns, 5′- and 3′ untranslated regions, and putative promoter). Nucleotide polymorphism distribution confirmed that this gene is subjected to different evolutionary forces, phylogenetic and distance analyses demonstrated that OrcPI is a useful nuclear marker at low taxonomic level in orchids. The expression pattern analysis showed that OrcPI transcripts are present in all the floral structures, undetected in the vegetative tissues, and decreased in the natural senescent flower. Finally, micro-RNAs putative target sites were identified within the OrcPI gene, conserved among orchids. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Due to societal changes and altered demands for firewood, the traditional forest management of coppicing has been largely abandoned. As a result, many forest herbs that are specifically adapted to regular opening of the canopy, have suffered significant declines in abundance, and the remaining populations of these species often tend to be small and isolated. Reduced population sizes and pronounced spatial isolation may cause loss of withinpopulation genetic diversity and increased between-population differentiation through random genetic drift and inbreeding. In this study, we investigated genetic diversity and genetic structure of 15 populations of the fooddeceptive orchid Orchis mascula using AFLP markers. Within-population genetic diversity significantly increased with increasing population size, indicating genetic impoverishment in small populations. Genetic differentiation, on the other hand, was rather low (ΦST = 0.083) and there was no significant relationship between genetic and geographic distances, suggesting substantial gene flow within the study area. However, strong differences in levels of within-population diversity and among-population differentiation were found for populations located in forests that have been regularly coppiced and populations found in forests that were neglected for more than 50 years and that were totally overgrown by shrubs. Our data thus indicate that a lack of coppicing leads to decreased genetic diversity and increased differentiation in this orchid species, most likely as a result of genetic drift following demographic bottlenecks. From a conservation point of view, this study combined with previous results on the demography of O. mascula in relation to forest management illustrates the importance of coppicing in maintaining viable populations of forest herbs in the long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent modern degenerative disease that has been implicated for deleterious effects on male reproductive function possibly due to an increased oxidative stress. Fructans and fructooligosaccharides (FOS’s) which are also considered as functional food components, have been reported to produce a benevolent effect against streptozotocin induced oxidative stress. The aqueous extract of Orchis latifolia rich in FOS’s as well as phytosterols were evaluated for their efficacy against streptozotocin and alloxan induced sexual dysfunction. The behavioral analysis of rats was undertaken to observe the effect on mount, ejaculation and intromission latencies as well as frequencies, hesitation time and copulatory rate. It was observed that hyperglycemia has an adverse effect on overall sexual behavior. The deleterious effect was significantly reduced in animals treated with polysaccharide rich fraction of O. latifolia. The study suggests that the diabetes induced sexual disability may be ameliorated by proper usage of herbal drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of reproductive barriers is of central importance for speciation. Here, we investigated three components of postzygotic isolation--embryo mortality, hybrid inviability, and hybrid sterility--in a group of food-deceptive Mediterranean orchids from the genera Anacamptis, Neotinea, and Orchis. In these orchids, pollinator-mediated isolation is weak, which suggests that postpollination barriers exist. Based on crossing experiments and a literature survey, we found that embryo mortality caused complete reproductive isolation among 36.3% of the species pairs, and hybrid inviability affected 55.6% of the potentially hybridizing species pairs. Hybrid sterility was assessed experimentally for seven species pairs. A strong reduction of fertility in all investigated hybrids was found, together with clear differences between male and female components of hybrid sterility. Postzygotic isolation was found to evolve gradually with genetic divergence, and late postzygotic isolation (i.e., hybrid inviability and sterility) evolved faster than embryo mortality, which is an earlier postzygotic isolation stage. These results reveal that intrinsic postzygotic isolation strongly contributes to maintaining species boundaries among Mediterranean food-deceptive orchids while establishing a prominent role for these reproductive barriers in the early stage of species isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Seed dispersal and the subsequent recruitment of new individuals into a population are important processes affecting the population dynamics, genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of plant populations. • Spatial patterns of seedling recruitment were investigated in two populations of the terrestrial orchid Orchis purpurea using both univariate and bivariate point pattern analysis, parentage analysis and seed germination experiments. • Both adults and recruits showed a clustered spatial distribution with cluster radii of c. 4–5 m. The parentage analysis resulted in offspring-dispersal distances that were slightly larger than distances obtained from the point pattern analyses. The suitability of microsites for germination differed among sites, with strong constraints in one site and almost no constraints in the other. • These results provide a clear and coherent picture of recruitment patterns in a tuberous, perennial orchid. Seed dispersal is limited to a few metres from the mother plant, whereas the availability of suitable germination conditions may vary strongly from one site to the next. Because of a time lag of 3–4 yr between seed dispersal and actual recruitment, and irregular flowering and fruiting patterns of adult plants, interpretation of recruitment patterns using point patterns analyses ideally should take into account the demographic properties of orchid populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollination of the non-rewarding Orchis pauciflora was studied. The most abundant visitors of O. pauciflora were B. terrestris queens. The fragrance of O. pauciflora inflorescence was dominated by a sesquiterpene ( E)-β-farnesene. ( E,E)-α-Farnesene, ( E)-2,3-dihydrofarnesol, geranylcitronellol, and the monoterpenes limonene and 1,8-cineol were found among less abundant constituents. The sesqui- and diterpenes detected in O. pauciflora fragrance are frequent constituents of male marking pheromones of many bumble bee species. Enantioselective analysis of O. pauciflora scent and B. terrestris male marking pheromone revealed the presence of the ( S)-isomer of ( E)-2,3-dihydrofarnesol in both samples, and electrophysiological experiments showed that mainly the ( S)-isomer activated the antennal receptors. In field experiments, O. pauciflora inflorescences were enriched with the main compound ( E)-β-farnesene resulting in significantly increased pollinia export. We here discuss the chemical similarities between orchid and bumble bees and whether the presence of bumble bee male pheromone components in O. pauciflora fragrance increases its fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation currently relies largely on hindsight because demographic studies identify population decline after the event. Nevertheless, the degree of aggregation within a population is an “instantaneous” characteristic with the potential to identify populations presently at greatest risk of genetic impoverishment (via Allee effects and in-breeding depression) and local decline. We sought to determine the relative extinction risk for sympatric orchid species throughout Monte Barro natural park (Lecco, Italy), based on an index of dispersion (I ) calculated from the size and location of subpopulations (recorded with GPS and mapped with GIS). Three population dispersion types were identified: (1) highly aggregated and locally abundant (large subpopulations restricted to particular sites; e.g., Gymnadenia conopsea [L.] R.Br.; = 54.5); (2) widespread and moderately aggregated (opportunistic throughout the elevational range of the mountain; e.g., [L.] R.Br.; I = 18.9); and (3) weakly aggregated and locally rare (small, highly diffuse subpopulations; e.g., endemic Ophrys benacensis [Reisigl] O. & E. Danesch & Ehrend.; I = 4.4). Type 1 populations are more likely to respond to in situ intervention, whereas type 2 are relatively invasive species for which conservation intervention is not necessary, and type 3 are rare species that are least likely to respond to habitat management, for which ex situ conservation and population reinforcement would be most appropriate. Although our methodology provides only a “snapshot” of aboveground patterns of population dispersion, it can help target the application of in situ and ex situ conservation activities proactively and is of particular utility for parks for which a rapid assessment of local extinction risks is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchid seeds are minute, dust-like, wind-borne and, thus, would seem to have the potential for long-distance dispersal. Based on this perception, one may predict near-random spatial genetic structure within orchid populations. In reality we do not know much about seed dispersal in orchids and the few empirical studies of fine-scale genetic structure have revealed significant genetic structure at short distances (< 5m), suggesting that most seeds of orchids fall close to the maternal plant. To obtain more empirical data on dispersal, Ripley’s L( d)-statistics, spatial autocorrelation analyses (coancestry, fij analyses) and Wright’s F statistics were used to examine the distribution of individuals and the genetic structure within two populations of the terrestrial orchid Orchis cyclochila in southern Korea. High levels of genetic diversity ( He = 0.210) and low between-population variation were found ( FST = 0.030). Ripley’s L( d)-statistics indicated significant aggregation of individuals, and patterns varied depending on populations. Spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed significant positive genetic correlations among individuals located <1 m, with mean fij values expected for half sibs. This genetic structure suggests that many seeds fall in the immediate vicinity of the maternal plant. The finding of significant fine-scale genetic structure, however, does not have to preclude the potential for the long distance dispersal of seeds. Both the existence of fine-scale genetic structure and low FST are consistent with a leptokurtic distribution of seed dispersal distances with a very flat tail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The localized hybridization betweenOrchis masculaandO. provincialisin Sardinia is investigated. The two parental species are closely related and share the same pollinators but do not hybridize in any other areas of sympatry. Artificial crosses between the two species in areas of sympatry on the continent revealed that, in absence of an ethological isolation, a strong post-pollination barrier exists and preserves species integrity in the main part of their distribution. However, on Sardinia, morphological observations, karyological and molecular analyses of intermediate phenotypes confirmed the occurrence of hybridization between the insularO. masculassp.ichnusaeandO. provincialisand the bi-directionality of pollen flow. The occurrence of hybrids on the island indicates a failure of otherwise strong post-pollination barriers betweenO. masculaandO. provincialis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explains that Sichuan, China has a rich and diverse orchid flora that includes both familiar and unusual orchids. Slipper orchid Cypripedium; Ponerorchis; Galearis; Amitostigma; Cephalanthera; Epipactis; Corallorhiza trifiza; Oreorchis; Pleione bulbocodioides; Bletilla formosana; Calanthe brevicornu; Epiphytes and lithophytes.

In the British Isles, Orchis ustulata was once locally frequent in suitable calcareous habitats throughout much of England as far north as Northumberland, but has subsequently declined drastically and is now extremely local. In England, individual flowering plants usually grow in fairly close proximity to each other forming discrete, local populations: but in a few clearly favorable British localities the populations can be very extensive. Also in Estonia, the situation where several groups of plants or subpopulations are sparsely scattered over a suitable area of several square kilometers is common.

A molecular phylogenetic investigation, based on the internal transcribed spacers(ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA, was undertaken on members of Anacamptis, Orchis, Neotinea, and allied genera, focussing on taxa growing in the Near East and Eastern Europe, and especially in Israel. We found that Eastern Mediterranean orchids do not represent a monophylum, as they belong to all of the three genera into which Orchis s.l. has recently been divided. Although no general geographic distribution pattern may be inferred, some sister terminals either show a broad East/West distribution pattern across the Mediterranean or represent peripheral isolates from amore extended range. The evolution of some sibling species pairs seems to be related to the evolution of different pollination strategies. Anacamptis israelitic are presents one of the rare cases of the existence of floral Batesian mimicry, while the endemic Orchis galilaea is the only species among the investigated taxa to be pollinated by sexual deceit, a strategy also implemented in the distant genus Ophrys. Differences in spur features occur between the Eastern Mediterranean Orchis anatolica and Anacamptis dinsmorei and their Western Mediterranean sister species; Anacamptis caspia closely resembles the eroica morphotype of the widespread Anacamptis papilionacea. These patterns of relationships suggest that differences in pollination strategiesor in pollinator communities among geographically distant populations or other ecological conditions may lead to changes in floral morphology and biology and eventually to speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines effect of absence of floral rewards on the geitonogamy of Orchis mascula and morio in Oland, Sweden. Behavior of pollinators in response to nectar; Determination of time elapsed before freshly withdrawn pollinarium pollinates another flower in the same plant; Fraction of pollen carryover.

Examines pollination flow in hybrid formation between Orchis morio and Orchis papilionacea in two different habitats in Italy. Effect of incomplete ethological isolation; Differences of the reproductive behavior of hybrids; Factors affecting change in direction of pollination; Contribution of Orchis morio in maternal lineage.

Focuses on Orchis militaris L., a plant in British Isles. Geographical and altitudinal distribution of the plant; Response of the plant to biotic factors; Communities where the plant is found; Common occurrence of the plant on gentle slopes.

Observations in chalk grassland in South Limburg, Netherlands, were made over a 10-year period on the development of a population of Orchis simia which probably originated from a single individual. The original plant ('mother plant') flowered for 10 successive years and, in years when the inflorescence was not damaged by grazing animals, produced viable seed. The species is clearly self-compatible. Juvenile plants with only one or two narrow leaves were found for the first time 4 year after the mother plant had flowered. Thereafter, recruitment to the population occurred annually, bit the number of new plants in any one year was low (5 to 13 ). Some juvenile plants flowered 3 years after appearing above ground, while others have still to flower after 6 years above ground. Only those plants which had developed four or five leaves in the rosette with a minimum leaf area of more than 60 cm² flowered. The height of the flowering stem and number of flowers on the inflorescence at the mother juvenile plants. New plants were also developed by vegetative means, but this method of reproduction is considered to be unimportant compared with spread by means of seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flower of Orchis galilaea (Bornm. et Schulze) Schltr. does not contain nectar. Only the males of Halictus marginatus are attracted and pollinate the orchid; females visit the flowers of other plant families. We suggest that O. galilaea has evolved a pollination mechanism based on a sexual attraction specific for the males of H. marginatus. This sexual attraction is the result of the strong, musk-like scent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchis laxiflora Lamk. grown from seeds in asymbiotic cultures has a special need for thiamine which is necessary for its development; riboflavin though it has a favourable influence on germination is unable to replace it. The requirement of this orchid for a nitrogen source can be satisfied with casamino acids; no mineral nitrogen source can play the same role, but in presence of the organic source, the addition of ammonium nitrogen is an improving factor while nitric nitrogen is unfavourable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A putative natural hybrid between Orchis laxiflora and O. morio ( Orchidaceae) from southern Italy, formerly known as O. alata, was characterized both on morphological and molecular grounds in order to confirm its hybrid status and to trace its maternal lineage. The morphological characters of the putative hybrid showed intermediacy between those of the parent species, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA confirmed its hybrid origin. Chloroplast DNA RFLP analysis indicated that O. morio provided the maternal genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The karyotypes of eight taxa of Orchis L. with 2n = 32 and 2n = 36 have been investigated using morphometrical measurements following staining with Feulgen, Giemsa (C-banding) and the DNA specific fluorochrome Hoechst 33258. The karyotypes of O. coriophora subsp. fragrans, and O. papilionacea proved to be the most asymmetrical, while O. morio and O. longicornu exhibited the most symmetrical karyotypes. Using C-banding and the fluorochrome H33258 only the taxa with high asymmetry indices showed the presence of differentially stained chromatin bands. In most chromosomes heterochromatin bands were present at the telomeric position. The present results seem to indicate that the analysed species do not form a homogeneous group and further subdivisions are possible, which, in turn, do not always correlate with divisions based on morphological characters. Both karyomorphology and heterochromatin distribution coincide in indicating a possible evolutionary pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic differentiation of Orchis papilionacea from Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Greece was analyzed by isozyme studies. No significant differences at any of the 28 loci tested were observed between samples of the putative subspecies papilionacea from Italy, grandiflora from Sicily and heroica from Greece, or by comparing sympatric papilionacea-like and grandiflora-like subsamples from Sardinia and Corsica. The genetic relationships found among the populations studied reflect more their geographic origin than their taxonomic assignment; papilionacea, grandiflora, and heroica are, therefore, at least in the study area, not to be considered as subspecies, but as simple morphs, controlled by few genes (possibly two) with Mendelian inheritance. The genetic divergence observed among the samples studied is very low and consistent with that of geographic populations of a single cohesive gene pool, linked by a high gene flow ( Nm = 5.9). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on chromosome numbers and karyotypes in Orchid taxa from Apulia (Italy) revealed triploid complements in Ophrys tenthredinifera and Orchis italica. In O. tenthredinifera there is no significant difference between the diploid and the triploid karyotypes. The tetraploid cytotype of Anacamptis pyramidalis forms 36 bivalents during metaphase I in embryo sac mother cells. Aneuploidy was noticed in Ophrys bertolonii × O. tarentina with chromosome numbers n = 19 and 2n = 38. There were diploid (2n = 2x = 36), tetraploid (2n = 4x = 72), hexaploid (2n = 6x = 108) and octoploid (2n = 8x = 144) cells in the ovary wall of the diploid hybrid Ophrys apulica × O. bombyliflora. Evolutionary trends in Ophrys and Orchis chromosomes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten species of orchid plants belonging to the genera Orchis (7), Dactylorhiza (2), and Gymnadenia (1) were analyzed by enzyme electrophoresis. Each species can be identified by a combination of enzyme bands different from those of all other species examined. The electrophoretic data were used for the construction of phenetic and phylogenetic trees with the help of computer programs. The trees were almost identical regardless which method was used. Our results differ considerably from a classification based on morphological evidence. The electrophoretic data indicate that the genus Orchis is not a monophyletic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European orchids Orchis mascula, O. pallens and their hybrids have been analysed by enzyme electrophoresis on starch gels. The two species differ in the electrophoretic mobilities of four out of eight enzymes tested. Three enzymes, phosphoglucomutase, phosphoglucoisomerase and 'malic enzyme' exhibit typical heterozygote patterns in the hybrid plants demonstrating the presence of both differing parental alleles. Thus, species identification is easy by the electrophoretic analysis of a low number of enzyme loci, and hybrids are detectable even if morphological characters fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population variability of Orchis israelitica, O. caspia, and their intermediates, from two localities in Israel, was analyzed and illustrated by scatter diagram and hybrid index. It is suggested that the hybrids are a result of introgression and are closer to O. caspia. Aspects of isolating barriers between these two species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the pollination of the nectarless plant, Orchis Caspia which deceives the pollinators of nectariferous species from other plant families. Influence of the behavior of several species of pollinator bees; Nature of pollen sources; Influence of the low ability of the bees to discriminate among nectariferous species.