Impact of growing conditions on vegetation, development and reproductive success of <i>Orchis purpurea</i> Huds. in the South-Eastern Crimea

The individual and population parameters of lady orchis — Orchis purpurea Huds. (Orchidaceae) under different growing conditions are compared. The onthogenetic type of cenopopulations, age, efficiency, recovery indices, vitality of individuals, plasticity index are determined. The largest number of plants is noted in forest communities. Demographical and morphological parameters differ nonsignificantly. Slight fluctuations in the vitality of individuals are noted depending on the habitat and the conditions of the growing season. The pollination success of plants in steppe biotopes is much higher than that in forest biotopes: the average fruit set in steppe biotopes was 39.63 %, in forest biotopes — 4.97—5.84 %. However, it did not affect reproductive success, the main indicator of which is the presence of new generations of plants: in all studied cenopopulations, a high proportion of individuals of the pregenerative period was noted. It is established that O. purpurea has a wide ecological amplitude and high adaptability to various conditions. It can grow in different habitats without changing morphological, demographic and ontogenetic parameters.