Orchids of the black sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai (Russia): Current state, new records, conservation

The article provides a relevant nomenclature list of Orchidaceae on the Black Sea coast in Krasnodarsky Krai (Russia), with clarification of the taxonomic status of each taxon. Fifty-one taxa (41 species and eleven subspecies) are known in the study area; apart of them, there are ten hybrids. Of them, five taxa are not found anywhere else in Russia, including Cephalanthera epipactoides, Epipactis euxina (endemic), E. leptochila subsp. neglecta, E. pontica, and Serapias orientalis subsp. feldwegiana. Two taxa (Epipactis condensata and Ophrys mammosa subsp. caucasica) slightly exceed the boundaries of the study area. Data on the distribution, occurrence, and association of species with plant communities are provided. Most taxa are more or less represented in forest communities. Only eight species are confined to grassland communities and ecotonic habitats. For 19 taxa, favourable conditions seem to be in anthropogenically disturbed habitats, preferring clearings under power lines, sides of forest roads, deposits, hay meadows, and dendroparks. Data on new locations and the state of the most threatened orchid species on the Black Sea coast in Krasnodarsky Krai are presented. Three species, Anacamptis coriophora, Dactylorhiza incarnata and Epipactis palustris, seem to have disappeared in the study area, possibly due to human activity. The state of regional populations of ten taxa causes concerns about their conservation on the Black Sea coast in Krasnodarsky Krai. Seven taxa (Anacamptis laxiflora subsp. dielsiana, Cephalanthera epipactoides, Dactylorhiza viridis, Epipactis condensata, E. euxina, Neotinea ustulata, Ophrys apifera, and Himantoglossum comperianum) have a critical status. For these orchids, the risk of extinction is very high in the study area. The other three taxa can be described as endangered, namely Himantoglossum caprinum, Ophrys mammosa subsp. caucasica, Orchis militaris subsp. stevenii. The problems of orchid diversity conservation in the study area are identified. We are convinced that the most effective method of orchid conservation on the Black sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai concerns the further developing of a Protected Area network, primarily through the creation of regional Protected Areas, including natural parks, nature monuments, municipal Protected Areas. © 2020, Fund for Support and Development of Protected Areas ""Bear Land"". All rights reserved.