The diversity of the orchid flora in Romania is presented by Nora De Angelli and Dan Anghelescu in their book The Orchids of Romania. The richly illustrated book also shows 21 taxa with albiflora forms – mainly in the genera Anacamptis, Dactylorhiza and Orchis. Four white-flowered orchids are documented as special varieties: Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. albiflora, Dactylorhiza incarnata var. albiflora, Dactylorhiza maculata var. albiflora and Epipactis palustris var. albiflora. The book shows an abundant selection von photos, selected with love and passion, among them many with visiting or pollinating insects. In Romania there are 71 orchid species and 7 further newly detected species, the authors, father and daughter, are writing. Many of them are still well represented by numerous populations, though there are different dangers threatening their existence. We have a moral obligation to protect these wonderful yet extremely vulnerable plants, Nora De Angelli and Dan Anghelescu are stressing.
Nora De Angelli also sent me some photos of albiflora orchids in Romania to be presented here, which is really great. The first to be shown are those of Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. transsilvanica which are of special interest for the understanding of albiflora orchids between spontaneous mutations and the miracles of evolution.