Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) So'o (Orchidaceae) in the Komi Republic: coenopopulation structure and reproductive biology

Studies of Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soό ( Orchidaceae ) carried out in the Komi Republic showed that this species has narrow ecocoenotical amplitude and occurs in the habitats of the same type including mainly sedgesphagnum mires and wet shrubsphagnum and sphagnum pine forests. It forms large and full coenopopulations with the prevalence of generative and immature plants. Individual size of the plants varies depending on the location. Plant size decreases slightly moving from the southern part of the region to the north; flower size increases in the mountain zone. The species have mainly seed reproduction. Pollination effectiveness is 57.4%. Seed productivity is high, one fruit case contains an average 2835 seeds and more than 90% of them have an embryo. Real seed productivity of the generative individual plant is 28982 seeds. Seed yield varies from 18 to 100.3 thousand seeds per m2 in different coenopopulations throughout the region. Stability of coenopopulations of D. maculata is promoted by long generative period and irregular (once in several years) wide-scale development of juvenile individuals.