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.


Introduction
The Orchidaceae family is one of the largest families of angiosperm plants (more than 28 000 species), probably giving the first place only to the Asteraceae family (Chase et al., 2003(Chase et al., , 2015Christenhusz & Byng, 2016;Willis, 2017;Fay, 2018). Despite this, orchids are among the most vulnerable taxa of vascular plants. This is due to the peculiarities of their biology and ecology, anthropogenic impact on the environment, and global processes, causing a climate change (Gale et al., 2018). The southern part of European Russia is one of the richest Russian regions with 68 orchid taxa (Averyanov, 2006;Ivanov, 2019;Litvinskaya, 2019;Fateryga et al., 2019;Efimov, 2020). The most species-rich Russian region, regarding orchid diversity, is the Russian Far East with 71 taxa followed by Southern Russia (Efimov, 2020).
The biodiversity of the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai is the most threatened due to the high anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems. About 3 000 000 people live here, and up to 16 000 000 people take vacations every year. In this region, the development of the touristic and recreational complex has predetermined active, not always justified and well-thought-out, anthropogenic interference with nature. They include changing the coastline, mining, construction of floodplain areas and the deformation of riverbeds, deforestation for ski resorts and the expansion of settlements, spontaneous recreation. All these represent a serious threat to many endemic taxa and taxa located at the edges of their ranges. In this area, most of these taxa have a regional or federal protection status (Red Data Book of Russian Federation, 2008;Litvinskaya, 2017).
The study area is formed by the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai extended from the Black sea level to the altitude of 1000 m a.s.l. This area has a high index of orchid species diversity, represented by 41 species, which is 80% of the orchid species known in Krasnodarsky Krai (Litvinskaya, 2019). This number is quite comparable with regions with a larger area, such as the Crimea with 45 species (Fateryga et al., 2019), Stavropolsky Krai with 25 species (Ivanov, 2019), Republic of Dagestan with 49 species (Efimov, 2020), Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia with 28 species (Zernov et al., 2015), Georgia with 53 taxa (Akhalkatsi et al., 2003), and Armenia with 43 species (Averyanov & Nersesyan, 2001).
In recent years, in some of these regions, floristic lists were specified (Murtazaliev, 2009;Shilnikov, 2010;Yena, 2012;Zernov, 2013;Zernov et al., 2015;Ivanov, 2019;Popovich, 2019a;Litvinskaya, 2019). There, the volumes of the genera in the family Orchidaceae vary considerably, though many studies do not consider the current taxonomy of this family. The same situation can be seen in the regional Red Data Books and the Red Data Book of Russia. This may cause problems in protecting vulnerable and endangered orchid species (Flanagan et al., 2006;Hollingsworth et al., 2006;Vereecken et al., 2010;Fay, 2018) at regional, national, and international level. Thanks to current research, based on molecular-genetic methods, molecular-phylogenetic data has been accumulated. Taking into account the guiding criteria (Jin et al., 2017), they allow to determine the optimal boundaries of taxa within the family Orchidaceae (Jin et al., 2017;Bateman et al., 2017;Bateman & Rudall, 2018;Zhou & Jin, 2018).
This study aimed to present a nomenclature list of the family Orchidaceae in the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, taking into account the current taxonomic re-evaluation and nomenclature, to assess the vulnerability of taxa in the region and assess the current state of threatened orchid taxa.
The list of orchids shows the currently accepted names of taxa according to the «World Checklist of Orchidaceae» (Govaerts et al., 2020), basionym and synonyms which were indicated by other authors for the study area. A separate paragraph contains erroneous indications of orchid taxa in the study area.

Study area
The study area includes the foothill and lowmountain part of the southern macroslope of the Main Caucasus range extending from the Black Sea water edge to the altitude of 1000 m a.s.l. The Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai is divided into two districts: Novorossiysk subarea (NS) and Sochi subarea (SS). In accordance with the botanical-geographical zoning, NS is a part of the Crimean-Novorossiysk province of the Mediterranean region, SS is a part of the Euxine province of the Circumboreal region. On the basis of the botanical-geographical zoning of the Caucasus (Menitsky, 1991), NS corresponds to the North-Western Transcaucasia and includes the Anapa-Gelendzhik and Pshada-Dzhubga districts, and SS corresponds to the Western Transcaucasia, which we define to the Tuapse district and Sochi district ( Fig.). The study area is bordered with the Taman district (Western Ciscaucasia) in the North-West, and the state border with the Republic of Abkhazia in the South-East. In the North and East, the border runs along the watersheds of ridges, covering the basins of rivers flowing into the Black Sea. The border between NS and SS is conditional, since the Tuapse vicinity has a smooth transition from submediterranean to Colchian landscapes. We draw the border between the two regions along the watershed that separates the basins of the River Shapsukho and River Nechepsukho (Dubovic, 2005;Zernov, 2006). NS is represented by submediterranean and low-mountain forest landscapes (Guzhin et al., 1996;Belyuchenko, 2005). The submediterranean vegetation type is highly pronounced (Schiffers, 1953;Litvinskaya, 2004;Bohn et al., 2004;Demina et al., 2015a), forming a belt of hemixerophytic woodlands. Its diagnostic taxa are Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb., J. deltoides R.P. Adams, J. foetidissima Willd., Quercus pubescens Willd., Carpinus orientalis Mill., Pinus brutia var. pityusa (Steven) Silba, P. nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe, and Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Rech.f. The characteristic feature of NS, especially in the north-western part, is the wide distribution of upland-xerophytic vegetation, petrophytic and upland steppes.
The studied part of SS is represented by colchian forest and low-mountain-forest colchian landscapes (Ataev & Bratkov, 2009 (Zernov, 2013). The presence of evergreen undergrowth forming by e.g. Prunus laurocerasus L., Rhododendron ponticum L., Buxus sempervirens L., Ilex colchica Pojark., Ruscus colchicus Yeo is also a characteristic feature of SS vegetation. In the North-West to the South-East, with an increase in precipitation, in the foothills and lowmountain parts of the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, the area, not occupied by forests, is significantly reduced. In SS, open habitats are mainly associated with anthropogenic influence on forests.

Results and Discussion
The research has resulted in a nomenclature list of Orchidaceae taxa of the Black Sea coast in Krasnodarsky Krai with clarification of their taxonomic status. In the study area, we have shown the presence of 52 taxa, including 41 species and eleven subspecies; besides there are ten hybrids.  (Kuropatkin & Efimov, 2014;Litvinskaya, 2019).
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Anacamptis laxiflora subsp. dielsiana is a very rare taxon confined to swampy habitats, reliably known from three localities situated in NS (Popovich, 2013;Litvinskaya, 2017). Its local populations are numerous, but their sites are small (Popovich, 2013(Popovich, , 2019b. There is one old reference for SS, namely «in the Kuchuk-Dere forest» (Grinevetsky, 1916). There are no current data on the distribution of this taxon in SS. It is possible, that the location of the subspecies has been lost due to the expansion of human settlements and the destruction of floodplain wetlands.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. In NS, the taxon occurs sporadically. Large local populations are observed in meadowsteppe and steppe communities. For example, the largest local population of A. morio subsp. caucasica is located in the vicinity of the village Verkhnebakansky. In 2019, a total of 2809 generative plants were recorded in the area of 45 000 m 2 . The taxon is found less frequently in shrub communities and juniper (Juniperus excelsa, J. foetidissima, J. deltoides) or hornbeam-oak (Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens) woodlands. In SS, the taxon is rare, because open habitats are rare, represented mainly by secondary biotopes, namely forest edges, shrub thickets, roadsides, cuttings under high-voltage power lines, abandoned gardens (Averyanova, 2016 (Kuropatkin & Efimov, 2014).
≡ Orchis pyramidalis L. 1753, Sp. Pl.: 940. Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. The species occurs sporadically along the entire Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. The distribution of individuals within the populations is scattered. In NS, the species is confined to a strip of juniper (Juniperus excelsa, J. foetidissima, J. deltoides) woodlands, observed on coastal rocky slopes, less often in meadows and in the ecotone strip of hornbeam-oak (Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens) woodlands and herb communities. In SS, it also grows mainly in ecotonic habitats, in meadows and in secondary woodlands in almost all river valleys (Averyanova, 2018a).
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Cephalanthera epipactoides is a very rare species, represented by a small number of specimens occurring singly or in small groups. In the study area, populations cover mainly the coastal strip NS from Anapa to Dzhubga (Litvinskaya, 2017;Fateryga et al., 2020). And we know several localities from SS, including the coastal slopes in the pine (Pinus brutia var. pityusa) forests near the village Soloniki (Personal communication: A. Solodko), the vicinity of the village Novomikhailovsky (Personal communication: A. Semenov and O. Semenova) and the vicinity of the village Gisel-Dere. The extremely northern location of C. epipactoides, noted by the authors of the study, is in a Protected Area, the coastal natural complex «Anapskoe vzmorye», located on the Abrau peninsula near the village Varvarovka. This record confirms the information of V.I. Lipsky, who found this taxon in the vicinity of Anapa in the late XIX century (LE). The largest population is located on the mountain Shkolnaya in the vicinity of Dzhubga. Its favourable conditions are primarily in light forest, shrubs, and edges of forests composed by Pinus brutia var. pityusa, Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana, Juniperus deltoides, Quercus pubescens, and Carpinus orientalis. It occurs less commonly in herbal communities.
= Cephalanthera ensifolia Rich. (Lipsky, 1899). Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. The species is distributed all along the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. It is quite rare in NS, and rare in SS, where it occurs solitary or in small groups. The distribution of individuals within the populations is scattered. The species is confined to forest communities, mainly oak, oak-hornbeam and hornbeam (Quercus petraea, Q. pubescens, Carpinus betulus, C. orientalis), less often observed in beech (Fagus orientalis) and pine (Pinus brutia var. pityusa) forests and shrub communities.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Dactylorhiza romana subsp. georgica has a limited distribution on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. In NS, this taxon is rare, recorded in the southeastern part, confined mainly to the dividing slopes of ridges (Kotsehur, Markotkh), at altitudes above 500 m a.s.l., in mountain meadows, less often in beech (Fagus orientalis) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) forests. For example, in 2019, a large population was discovered in a beech (Fagus orientalis) forest on the slope of the mountain «921» of the Kotsehur ridge, with several thousands of generative individuals (Fig. 15S). The distribution of individuals within the populations is compact-dispersed. To the south, it is noted on the Mikhailovsky pass and in the Tekos River basin, cape Kadosh near Tuapse (Litvinskaya, 2017). Below 500 m a.s.l., the taxon is confined to Quercus petraea forests. In the foothills and low-mountain parts of SS, the species is not recorded. 9. Dactylorhiza urvilleana (Steud.) H. Baumann & Künkele, 1981, Mitt. Arbeitskreis Heimische Orchid. Baden-Württemberg 13: 240 (Averyanov, 2006;Vakhrameeva et al., 2014;Litvinskaya, 2017;Ivanov, 2019;Litvinskaya, 2019).
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. The species is distributed all along the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. It is rare in NS and occurs sporadically in SS. It is found mainly in small groups, but in some local populations, forming clusters of 50-150 individuals (Popovich, 2013;Averyanova, 2019a). Dactylorhiza urvilleana prefers moist shady habitats: beech (Fagus orientalis) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), mixed colchian forests, floodplain seasonally waterlogged ash (Fraxinus excelsior) forests. The distribution of individuals within the populations is compact-dispersed.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Dactylorhiza viridis is a very rare species, recorded on the border of NS and the Abinsky district (Zernov, 2000;Popovich, 2013). It is confined to meadows and ecotone belt and rarely occurs in oak-ash (Quercus petraea, Fraxinus excelsior) forests. In the foothills and low-mountain parts of SS, the species is not recorded.
Note. Plants with purple-tinged leaves, previously accepted as Epipactis condensata subsp. kuenkeleana (Fateryga et al., 2014), were later put into synonymy to the nominative subspecies . On the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, plants are common, both corresponding to the nominative subspecies and to the former subsp. kuenkeleana. They are not separated geographically. Therefore, we accept the position of , and consider the latter taxon as a phenotypic form, confined to shady forest communities: Epipactis  Litvinskaya, 2019;Efimov, 2020) (Fig. 1S, Fig. 2S).
Note. In contrast to the closely related species Epipactis persica, this newly described endemic has the longest pedicels, about equal to the length of the ovary, but not shorter; the epichile's length appreciably exceeds the width, but not approximately equal to the width; the viscidium is underdeveloped or absent (viscidium is well defined in E. persica) (Fateryga et al., 2018b). Flowering occurs in the first half of June, rather than in July. Epipactis euxina is confined to more xerophilic conditions. 13. Epipactis helleborine subsp. tremolsii (Pau) E. Klein, 1979, Orchidee (Hamburg), 30(2): 49 .
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This taxon occurs sporadically along the entire Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. It is quite common in NS, and rarer in SS, except for two large, isolated populations in Sochi: in the sanatorium «Metallurg» and on the terrencure «Path of health». The taxon is confined to various forest communities, shrubby thickets. And it is less frequently observed in the ecotone belt and disturbed habitats. The distribution of individuals within the populations is scattered.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. In NS, one location of this species is known in the nature monument «Roshcha sosny pitsundskoy "Dzhankhotskaya"»: «Gelendzhik District, vicinity of khutor Dhzankhot, Mt. Svyataya Nina» (Fateryga et al., 2018b). Plants are recorded in a pine (Pinus brutia var. pityusa) forest damaged by wildfire.
Note. The main diagnostic character of this Crimean-Novorossiysk endemic, which distinguishes it from the closely related species E. condensata, is the absence of a viscidium, and the associated obligate self-pollinating (Fateryga et al., 2014).
15a. Epipactis leptochila (Godfery) Godfery subsp. leptochila Fateryga et al., 2018b;Litvinskaya, 2019 Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. We know several locations of this taxon on the border of NS and in the Abinsky district, on the ridges of the Markotkh and Kotsehur (Fateryga et al., 2018b;Popovich, 2019a;Plantarium, 2020). A new location of Epipactis leptochila subsp. leptochila was found in the vicinity of the village Verkhnebakansky in the Plisova gorge (Fig. 5S, Fig. 6S). The taxon is confined to shady broad-leaved forests.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. We know one population of Epipactis leptochila subsp. neglecta in SS, in the Khosta river basin on the border of the Khosta department of the Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve. The habitat is a mixed dead-blooded beech-yew (Fagus orientalis, Taxus baccata) forest with linden (Tilia begoniifolia) and maples (Acer campestre, A. cappadocicum) on the western slope of the gorge (Fateryga et al., 2018b).
Note. Unlike the typical subspecies, subsp. neglecta has its lateral margins of the epichile not rolled up and the viscidium is usually absent.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Epipactis microphylla is reliably known in NS of the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. It is a rare species, mainly presented by solitary plants or small groups. The species is confined to diverse forest communities: beech (Fagus orientalis) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), oak (Quercus petraea), hornbeam-oak (Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens) and pine (Pinus brutia var. pityusa) forests.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Epipactis muelleri is a very rare species, known from several locations in NS (Fateryga et al., 2018b;Popovich, 2019a). A new location of E. muelleri was found in the vicinity of the village Verkhnebakansky in the Plisova gorge ( Fig. 2S:C,D). The species is confined to shady beech (Fagus orientalis), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), and rarely oak (Quercus petraea) forests.
Note. The Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai is home to plants of E. muelleri var. saltuaria Kreutz, which lack a viscidium and have small flowers with a small heart-shaped epichile without or with indistinct tubercles at its base (Kreutz et al., 2018).

Epipactis pontica
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. In SS, there are several, often large, populations. There is, in the interfluve of Eastern and Western Khosta, one small population in the Kudepsta River basin (Averyanova, 2013;Litvinskaya, 2017) new locations of Epipactis pontica are found on mount Ovsyannikova and in the vicinity of the village Thagapsh.
≡ Orchis conopsea L. 1753, Sp. Pl.: 942. Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Gymnadenia conopsea is a rare species on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. In NS, it is known mainly on the Markotkh ridge and the Kotsehur ridge, in the vicinity of the khutors Dzhankhot and Dzhubga (MW0637947; Popovich, 2019a). Gymnadenia conopsea is indicated in the Utrish State Nature Reserve (Timukhin, 2017). In SS, in the lowmountain part, herbarium specimens are known from the vicinity of Tuapse (MW0658489, MW0658490). Other locations are noted in the middle and high mountain zones. The species is confined to mountain meadows, and it is observed in clearings along power lines and in thickets of shrubs. The distribution of individuals within the populations is scattered. 21. Himantoglossum caprinum (M. Bieb.) Spreng. 1826. Syst. Veg. ed. 16 [Sprengel] 3: 694 (Dubovic, 2005;Averyanov, 2006;Zernov, 2006;Vakhrameeva et al., 2014;Litvinskaya, 2017;Ivanov, 2019;Litvinskaya, 2019 Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. The main part of the population in the North-Western Caucasus is located in NS. The largest population is located in the vicinity of the village Verkhnebakansky (Fig. 16S). In 2019, a total of 8480 individuals of different age classes were recorded in an area of 45 000 m 2 (Popovich, 2019a). Quite large populations are located on the Markotkh ridge. Also, the species is noted on the Tuaphat ridge and the Abrau peninsula (Demina et al., 2015b;Litvinskaya, 2017). The distribution of individuals within the populations is compact-dispersed.
Note. The plants located on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, as well as in the whole area of the North-Western Caucasus and in Crimea (Yena, 2012;Popovich, 2019a), have no speckling and are not long villose at the base of the lip (the surface is almost smooth). These characters correspond to Himantoglossum affine (Boiss.) Schltr.
On the basis of an in-depth analysis, it is proved that H. caprinum and H. affine are the same species (Sramkó et al., 2012).
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Himantoglossum comperianum was found in 2009 (Makarova & Shulakov, 2011). It is known on the basis of two specimens collected in the vicinity of the village Khleborob in SS (MHA).
Note. We accept the position of Delforge (1999) and Bateman et al. (2017), who included the genus Comperia K. Koch in Himantoglossum Spreng. on the basis of morphological and molecular studies.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Neotinea tridentata is a fairly common species in NS, but to the south-east, the number of localities and population size decreases considerably due to a reduction of open habitats. Numerous local populations are noted on the Markotkh ridge, in the vicinity of the village Verkhnebakansky, on Shkolnaya mount in the vicinity of the village Dzhubga, on mount «Three Brothers» in the vicinity of Tuapse. Some populations are found on the Abrau peninsula. In SS, in the Dederkoi gorge, in the Svirsky gorge, in the interfluves of the Western Khosta River, Eastern Khosta River and River Kudepsta, as well as in the middle reaches of River Mzymta. The taxon is confined to herbaceous plant communities. It is observed in meadows and meadow-steppe communities, in juniper (Juniperus excelsa, J. foetidissima, J. deltoides) woodlands and clearings in hornbeam-oak (Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens) forests, in the ecotone represented by shrub communities, anthropogenically disturbed habitats.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Neotinea ustulata is a very rare species. There are data of this species in NS (Flerov & Flerov, 1926;Zernov, 2000;Dubovic, 2005;Lipka, 2009). We know two closely located sites on the Markotkh ridge above the village Hajduk (Popovich, 2013;Plantarium, 2020). In SS, N. ustulata is specified from the vicinity of the village Novomikhailovsky (Personal communication: A. Semenov and O. Semenova). The species is confined to herbaceous plant communities: meadows and meadow-steppe communities.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This mesophytic species is confined to shady wet forest communities. In NS, Neottia ovata is rare due to smaller areas with suitable illumination and humidity conditions, i.e. floodplain ash (Fraxinus excelsior) forests («Tsemesskaya grove» and forest area «Bolshye Yasynki»), in places where ground water reaches the surface. It is known from the watershed slopes of the Markotkh ridge (mainly northern exposure), Kotsekhur ridge and Mikhailovka mountain, in beech (Fagus orientalis) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) forests. The species is more common сloser to Tuapse. It is found sporadically in almost all gorges in SS. Separate populations are numerous on Bytkha and Ovsyannikov mounts, between the River Zapadnaya Khosta and the River Vostochnaya Khosta.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Ophrys apifera is a very rare species. In NS, it is mostly confined to herbaceous plant communities. Currently, the largest O. apifera population (250 plants) is found in thermophilic meadows, where the dominant mediterranean species is Deschampsia media (Gouan) Roem. & Schult., located in the Protected Area «Prilagunie» and in adjacent areas. It is rarely seen in swampy meadows and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) floodplain forests (in Gelendzhik on the Thin Cape and in Novorossiysk in the «Pioneer grove»), in petrophytic-steppe communities, in clearings of sparse oak-hornbeam (Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis) and juniper (Juniperus deltoides) communities (Abrau peninsula and Shkolnaya mount). We found a new location of O. apifera in Gelendzhik on cape Tonkiy in 2019. The species is rare in SS, where it is usually confined to the ecotones: forest edges, verges of forest roads, and secondary small woodland. In addition to previously known localities (Litvinskaya, 2017), eight localities were noted here. In one of them (interfluve of the River Zapadnaya Khosta and River Vostochnaya Khosta), we found six subpopulations, in which the number of individuals varied from 2-3 individuals to 50 individuals (Averyanova, 2017a). In the cluster of the Sochi Arboretum in Sochi city, there were up to 250 individuals in artificial forest plantings (Soltani, 2015).  (Grossheim, 1940;Averyanov, 2006;Vakhrameeva et al., 2014;Litvinskaya, 2017;Ivanov, 2019;Litvinskaya, 2019).
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Ophrys mammosa subsp. caucasica is rarely found in NS. It prefers the coastal slopes of ridges, confined to open habitats. This taxon is noted in petrophyte communities and petrophytic steppe, in juniper (Juniperus excelsa, J. foetidissima, J. deltoides) woodlands, in clearings and in ecotones of hornbeam-oak (Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens) forests. The taxon is even rarer in SS. It is noted in the vicinity of the village Detlyazhka (Timukhin & Tuniyev, 2018), as well as on «Three Brothers» mount, on the seaside slope near the railway station in Gizel-Dere, in the Svirskoe gorge and in the vicinity of Soloniki. Ophrys mammosa subsp. caucasica is confined to sparse shrub communities and oak-hornbeam (Quercus pubescens, Q. petraea, Carpinus orientalis) forests in SS. Plants are recorded solitary or in small groups.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This taxon is very rare in NS. We know locations in the ecotones, in meadows and ash-oak (Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus robur subsp. pedunculiflora) forests in the vicinity of the village Raevskaya; in Dzhubga on Shkolnaya mount, in meadow communities on the edge with juniperoak (Juniperus deltoides, Quercus pubescens) low-growth forests. In SS, it is recorded from the vicinity of Tuapse and in the settlement Lazarevskoe and the villages Soloniki, Vishnevka, Matrosskaya Schel, from Magri to Chemitokvadzhe (MW; Litvinskaya, 2017), Novomikhailovskiy (Personal communication: A. Semenov and O. Semenova). We personally confirmed one new location, located on the right slope of the Svirsky gorge.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This species is distributed only in SS, forming extended populations in Colchic multidominant forests and in beech-hornbeam (Fagus orientalis, Carpinus betulus) forests. The population can reach a high number of individuals, especially in the south-eastern part of SS.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This taxon is distributed all along the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, occurs as solitary plants or in small groups. It is quite rare in NS, but occurs sporadically in SS. It occurs sporadically in SS, forming extended populations. The distribution of indi-viduals within the populations is scattered. Some of them are numerous. It is associated with forest communities, including oak (Quercus petraea, Q. robur), oak-hornbeam (Q. petraea, Carpinus betulus), beechhornbeam (Fagus orientalis, C. betulus) and polydominant forests of the colchian type. It is often found along roadsides and in ecotone plant communities.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Orchis simia is one of the most common Orchidaceae species in NS, confined to juniper (Juniperus excelsa, J. foetidissima, J. deltoides), pine (Pinus brutia var. pityusa) and hornbeam-oak (Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens) forests and woodlands, noted in steppe, meadow-steppe and petrophytic plant communities, in shrub thickets and anthropogenically disturbed habitats (abandoned agricultural land). On the contrary, in SS, O. simia is a very rare species with isolated individuals in the vicinity of the village Vishnevka (Timukhin & Tuniyev, 2018). The locations in the vicinities of Tuapse, Magri and Khosta (Litvinskaya, 2017) require confirmation. We could not find them.
≡ Orchis bifolia L. 1753, Sp. Pl.: 939. Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Platanthera bifolia is a rare species in NS, mostly confined to mesophytic broad-leaved forests. In SS, the species is common, found in various forest plant communities. The distribution of individuals within the populations is scattered.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Platanthera chlorantha is a quite rare species in NS, confined to more xerophytic conditions than P. bifolia, such as oak-hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis, Quercus petraea, Q. pubescens) forests, glades in pine (Pinus brutia var. pityusa, P. nigra subsp. pallasiana) and juniper (Juniperus deltoides) forests, in the ecotone belt, less often in hornbeam and hornbeam-beech (Carpinus betulus, Fagus orientalis) forests, meadow and meadow-steppe. Most of the locations known in SS (Litvinskaya, 2017;Timukhin & Tuniyev, 2018) are apparently incorrect. Plants with morphological characteristics typical for P. chlorantha were found only at one place: in the River Kuapse valley. All other numerous records were related to P. bifolia individuals. There are old collected specimens of this species from the vicinity of the village Ashe and the settlement Khosta (MW0658579; MW0658581), and more recent collections from the village Agoy and between the railway stations of Volkonka and Soloniki (MW1004321, MW1004322).
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This taxon is absent in NS. Obviously, the northeastern border of the global range of this taxon runs along the border of NS and SS, covering the foothills and low mountains from Agui-Shapsug in the vicinity of Tuapse to the state border with Abkhazia. This orchid prefers open or ecotone habitats. Usually, populations are characterised by non-numerous individuals. But in the Zapadnaya Khosta River basin and Matsesta River basin, we found clusters of 300-500 individuals (Averyanova, 2018b).
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Spiranthes spiralis is absent in NS, and it is distributed sporadically in SS. The species is noted in low-herbal meadows, along the glades, abandoned gardens and roadsides on almost all ridges in the interfluve from River Psou to River Khobza. In addition, the species is found in the basins of the rivers Psezuapse, Svirskaya and Makopse. Populations with a high number of individuals (200-500 plants) were observed in the villages of Khleborob and Progress. There are clusters in parks and sanatoria in Sochi city centre (Averyanova, 2017b). There are specimens collected in the vicinity of Tuapse (MW).
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This species is distributed all along the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai: NS (quite rare), occurs solitary or in small groups (Zernov, 2000;Litvinskaya, 2017;Popovich, 2019a). The only large population was found on an abandoned agricultural land in the vicinity of the village Natukhaevskaya in 2019. It harboured at least 228 individuals per 100 m 2 . Steveniella satyrioides is sporadically spread across all forest communities in SS. There are usually 2-4 individuals at the localities. Occasionally there are clusters of 20-40 or more individuals. In the vicinity of the village Vorontsovka, in the upper reaches of the River Vostochnaya Khosta, the number varied from 18 individuals to 96 individuals per 620 m 2 in different years. The species has a wide tolerance range to humidity and illumination conditions. It is observed in clearings in juniper (Juniperus deltoides), oakhornbeam (Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) forests in communities of petrophyte-steppe vegetation, in meadows, in the ecotone zone, in various forest communities. Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. We know locations of this hybrid in NS, like in Anapa, in the vicinity of the village Supsekh (Plantarium, 2020); Gelendzhik, vicinity of the village Svetluy (Personal communication: Khoteev); Anapa, vicinity of the village Varvarovka, and on Shkolnaya mount in the vicinity of Tuapse.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This hybrid is common only in SS. It is mostly found together with its parental species in the сolchian mixed and beech-hornbeam (Fagus orientalis, Carpinus betulus) forests in the Khosta River basin and Kudepsta River basin, solitary plants were found on Bytkha mount and in the vicinity of the village Vasilyevka. The ratio of the number of hybrids and individuals of parental taxa in some years reached 1:30.
Note. Orchis × colemani Cortesi, 1907, Ann. Bot. (Rome) 5: 540 (described as hybrid of «Orchis mascula (L.) L. × O. pauciflora Ten.») is erroneously noted on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai (Timukhin, 2010;Litvinskaya, 2017;Ivanov, 2019;Litvinskaya, 2019), since one of the parental taxa, O. pauciflora, does not occur in the Caucasus, as its range covers the Mediterranean region (Delforge, 2006). Orchis × penzigiana is usually characterised by a more powerful habitus, and an intermediate type of leaf colouration. The last trait is expressed in small, evenly allocated spots instead of large and dense spots typical for O. provincialis. At the same time, the spots on the leaves of O. × penzigiana are not concentrated on the leaf base or absent like in O. mascula. The hybrid is highly variable in the flower colouration: very bright flowers with a large number of spots are more common, but they are less often pale pink.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. Solitary plants of this hybrid were noticed at four locations (along the rivers Sochi, Matsesta, and Khosta) in SS. This hybrid forms populations commonly characterised by quite a high number of individuals in NS. For example, a population of more than a hundred individuals flourishes in the presence of both parental species in abandoned vineyards in Anapa in the vicinity of the village Varvarovka. Apparently, its distribution along the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai is directly related to the decrease in the number of Orchis punctulata from the north-west to the south-east.
Distribution, occurrence and habitats in the study area. This hybrid was noted in NS. It is more common than Platanthera bifolia, but less than P. chlorantha. It is confined to more arid habitats than P. bifolia.
Perhaps, other hybrids will be found on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. For example, we know large populations of the two following pairs of co-occurring taxa: Anacamptis laxiflora subsp. dielseana and A. pyramidalis; Dactylorhiza romana subsp. georgica and D. urvilleana (Fig. 19S, Fig. 20S).

Extinct taxa and erroneous indications
1. Anacamptis coriophora (L.) R.M. Bateman, specimens (Flerov & Flerov, 1926). Current research did not confirm E. palustris in the foothills and the low-mountains of the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. The species may have disappeared due to habitat destruction.
The following orchid species are found only in the mid-mountain and high-mountain parts of the

Habitats
The association of orchids with plant communities is shown in Electronic Supplement 2. Almost all species are more or less strictly confined to forest communities. The exceptions are eight taxa recorded only in herbaceous communities and rarely shrubs: Anacamptis laxiflora, A. morio subsp. caucasica, Dactylorhiza viridis, Gymnadenia conopsea, Himantoglossum caprinum, Neotinea ustulata, Serapias orientalis subsp. feldwegiana, and Spiranthes spiralis (Electronic Supplement 2). Thirteen taxa are confined to herbaceous plant communities and ecotone habitats, less frequently observed in forest communities, mainly on the borders and in light forests. For example, Anacamptis laxiflora subsp. dielseana, a species confined to swampy meadows, is rarely observed in floodplain forest communities, dominated by Fraxinus excelsior or in the mass young tree and shrub vegetation in floodplain waterlogged areas. In the case of overgrowth of meadows and partially steppe communities, some orchids are able to exist under modified conditions for a certain period. Under such conditions, the density and number of individuals in populations become lower than in herbaceous plant communities. In addition, negative conditions appear for seed production of orchids. In forest communities, it is expressed predominantly in a decrease in pollinator activity. In Himantoglossum caprinum, confined to ecotone habitats, flowers and fruits are damaged by parasitic ascomycetes in shady forest communities. This fact almost completely excludes the seed production (Popovich, 2017(Popovich, , 2019b (Fig. 17S, Fig.  18S). Spiranthes spiralis is mainly confined to pitting meadows, abandoned gardens, and roadsides.

Conservation issues for rare orchid species
The Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (2008) includes 66 orchid species, including 27 species distributed on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. Six species have the highest category of rarity status (Table), four species have category 2 (declining in numbers), 14 species have category 3 (rare species). The Red Data Book of Krasnodarsky Krai (Litvinskaya, 2017) includes 45 taxa. Of them, 34 orchid taxa are distributed on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, including two hybrids. Five taxa are classified as Critically Endangered; nine taxa are Endangered; 20 taxa are Vulnerable. On the basis of our long-term studies, we identified IUCN Red List categories for each orchid taxon in the study area (Table). In accordance with the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2019), we did not evaluate hybrid taxa according to the IUCN Red List criteria and did not assign them a threatened taxon category.
Seven taxa have the highest taxon extinction threat category on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodarsky Krai (Table). Two species (Dactylorhiza viridis, Neotinea ustulata) have an extensive range in Russia (Efimov, 2020). But they are exceedingly rare in the study area due to the ecological features of habitats, which limit their distribution.
Monitoring studies have shown that on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, three known Anacamptis laxiflora subsp. dielseana populations, located near settlements, are in a critical condition (Popovich, 2019a,b). This is caused by the complex action of adverse biotic and anthropogenic factors, including habitat succession, overgrowth of swampy meadows with woody and shrubby vegetation, including invasive trees and shrubs (e.g. Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Spartium junceum L.), drainage and destruction of habitats during construction. If we do not exclude the effect of these limiting factors, we predict that after ten years, the number of A. laxiflora subsp. dielseana may have decreased by more than 80%.
Ophrys apifera has a higher range of tolerance to environmental factors than A. laxiflora subsp. dielseana, but it is also a very rare and threatened orchid. Most of the relatively large populations are situated near or into settlements, which causes a high risk for extinction. For example, in 2017 in SS a large O. apifera population was severely affected on mount Lysaya near the village Vardane (SS) due to the plowing of this area. Hence, its complete destruction is possible. In addition, in 2019, 20% of the largest O. apifera population in NS was destroyed as a result of land clearing near the Protected Area «Prilagunye».
In Russia, the range of Cephalanthera epipactoides is limited by a narrow strip along the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai (Fateryga et al., 2020). Most habitats of this species are under anthropogenic pressure due to the development of coastal areas for resort construction and recreation. In Russia, the risk of C. epipactoides extinction increases due to the drying out of buds and flowers due to adverse weather conditions (spring droughts), as well as a low fruit productivity. Epipactis condensata is extremely rare, too. Only in recent years, the information on the distribution of this species appeared in the study area of Krasnodarsky Krai. After analysing the existing herbarium materials and carrying out additional field studies, we came to the conclusion that E. condensata is in a critical condition. The known populations of the species are represented by a low number of individuals, while most of the locations are under a certain threat degree of extinction.
Epipactis euxina is confined to vulnerable coastal forest communities with the participation of Pinus brutia var. pityusa and Quercus pubescens. It is known from only one locality. Only this species is endemic for the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. For the first time E. euxina was found in the Protected Area «Roshcha sosny pitsundskoy "Dzhankhotskaya"» in 2017. The number of individuals was 36 in two subpopulations. In 2019, a new subpopulation with 48 individuals was noted. The total number of the entire population is 84 individuals. Due to the lack of knowledge of the new species, it is difficult to determine the threat category. However, Epipactis euxina is undoubtedly represented by a small number of individuals, and associated with narrow environment conditions, and, consequently, a small area of occupancy. We assume that E. euxina is restricted to the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. And its habitat area is so small that the risk of extinction is very high. It especially occurs under habitat degradation due to periodic emergencies (wildfires) and further erosion of coastal slopes, as well as due to a high recreational pressure, building construction, and infrastructure development. Therefore, we categorised this species as Critically Endangered.
Himantoglossum comperianum was known with several generative individuals from one location in SS. In recent years, its plants are not observed on this location. The species has probably disappeared from the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. Special attention should be paid to taxa having the category Endangered. In NS, Himantoglossum caprinum has several quite dense populations with numerous individuals, the loss of which will raise the taxon's threat category to a critical one. In particular, there is a high threat of loss of the population in the vicinity of the village Verkhnebakansky. In Krasnodarsky Krai and the Russian Caucasus as a whole, this population is the richest in terms of number of individuals, although its location borders to the industrial zone of the village. Ophrys mammosa subsp. caucasica and Orchis militaris subsp. stevenii have a natural rarity. They are confined to places, attractive for resort construction and agricultural development. Therefore, the risk of reducing their populations to a critical level is extremely high.
Insufficient data on some Epipactis taxa does not allow us to give an accurate estimation of the size and status of their populations caused by their natural rarity (Table). Epipactis krymmontana, E. leptochila, E. muelleri, and E. persica are known from one or more locations represented by several generative individuals or small groups. We believe that with more detailed and targeted studies, their regional distribution will not be limited to the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. A positive aspect, that gives hope for the conservation of Epipactis species new for the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, is their association with forest communities, mainly beech (Fagus orientalis) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)forests, which cover a considerable part of the study area. An exception is the subendemic species E. krymmontana, which is confined, like E. euxina, to the coastal pine (Pinus brutia var. pityusa) forests.
For some orchid species, moderate anthropogenic pressure can induce an increase in the number and density of individuals in populations, by reducing competition from other plant species. Such an influence could be the thinning of the woody vegetation or a decrease in the density and height of the herb layer. It forms the favourable conditions for some orchid taxa associated with meadows and forest edges (e.g. Anacamptis morio subsp. caucasica, Neotinea tridentata, Ophrys apifera, Orchis punctulata, O. simia, Serapias orientalis subsp. feldwegiana, and Spiranthes spiralis). Therefore, some species form large populations on abandoned agricultural lands, pastures and hayfields. In such habitats, regulation of economic activity and constant monitoring of the conditions of orchid populations (especially large ones) will allow some taxa to be preserved.
The control of invasive plant species is of great importance for conservation of orchid populations. This especially concerns the invasion of woody plants, which rapidly modify the conditions of orchid habitats. Due to the climate change, invasion of alien species could be increased. Therefore, decisive measures must be taken to limit their distribution.
To preserve species associated with climax plant communities, it is necessary to create Protected Areas with a strict protection regime. The organisation of Protected Areas is necessary to protect key habitats and threatened ecosystems associated with ecotones and the rapidly changing plant communities. Their positive effects concern either restriction of human influence by slowing down succession processes, or development of measures to reduce the overgrowth rate in herbaceous communities and for mandatory monitoring of the status of orchid populations on these sites. These conditions must be specified in the regulations for each Protected Area, which is responsible for conservation of rare orchid species. In our opinion, on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, the most optimal Protected Area types for the rare species protection seem to be national parks and regional natural parks, which should have a larger area. This protection regime will preserve valuable natural complexes from destruction. On the other hand, in the study area, it will allow establishing sustainable development of eco-tourism and reduce the risks of conflicts between environmental authorities, local residents and business. It is the best way to create regional-level nature monuments and municipal Protected Areas having an optimal protection regime for small natural complexes on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai, especially those, located near or within settlements boundaries.
Thus, we believe that the most effective way to protect orchid populations in the study region is the further development of a Protected Areas network, primarily through the creation of regional (nature parks, nature monuments) and municipal Protected Areas. Although in SS orchids are well preserved in the Sochi National Park, in NS, key habitats of orchids are insufficiently protected. Only in the Utrish State Nature Reserve, populations of 22 species are protected. But most of them are extremely small in this Protected Area (Timukhin, 2017). In this regard, the urgent question concerns the early creation of the Markotkh Nature Park. There are populations of 28 orchid species within an area of more than 650 km 2 (Markotkh Nature Park project documentation, 2019) the necessity of its creation was justified by leading experts in 2017. At the regional level, it is also necessary to protect the key habitats of orchids on Shkolnaya mount, Vardane mount, the Verhnebakanskaya Hi-mantoglossum caprinum population, the remains of floodplain ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and oak (Quercus robur) forests in the vicinity of the village Raevskaya, swampy meadows on cape Tonkiy in Gelendzhik, the floodplain of the stream near the Sukko reservoir, coastal pine (Pinus brutia var. pityusa) forests on the Tuaphat ridge, and the coastal area of Betta -cape Idokopas. It is necessary to clarify the new borders of the Abrau Sanctuary and Agri Sanctuary.
Compensation methods are traditionally used in the implementation of economic activity in undisturbed natural areas, in particular, translocation (transplanting). But actually they do not work for orchids, which leads to their extinction. Therefore, habitats of orchids, involved in human activity, disappear completely without appearing anywhere else. Perhaps, it makes sense to create a nursery at specialised educational, scientific or environmental institutions, which will be constantly engaged in the orchid restoration in Protected Areas.

Conclusions
Taking into consideration the current taxonomic and nomenclature re-evaluation, 52 taxa (41 species, eleven subspecies) and ten hybrids of Orchidaceae are reliably known within the borders of the foothills and low mountains on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. Five of these taxa are not found anywhere else in Russia, including Cephalanthera epipactoides, Epipactis euxina, E. leptochila subsp. neglecta, E. pontica, and Serapias orientalis subsp. feldwegiana. Two taxa, namely Epipactis condensata and Ophrys mammosa subsp. caucasica, slightly exceed the boundaries of the study area.
Current research could not confirm the distribution of Anacamptis coriophora, Dactylorhiza incarnata, and E. palustris in the foothills and the low-mountain of the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai. These species may have disappeared due to habitat destruction.
Eleven taxa are represented by an extremely low number of both populations and individuals per population. Further strengthening of the limitation and the occurrence of emergencies may lead to their disappearance in the study area. Therefore, it is necessary to develop measures to protect and maintain such populations of threatened taxa.
The development of a Protected Areas network, covering the most valuable and threatened ecosystems on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodarsky Krai is a top priority in biodiversity conservation, including orchids.
Information on the number, habitat and other population characteristics of five taxa is so small, that it is impossible to accurately assess the status of their populations. In this regard, more research is needed to find new locations of taxa and conduct environmental and biological studies of already known populations.
We want to draw attention to another problem, the unifying volumes of taxa in various environmental documents, which is crucial for their effective protection. The existing contradictions in Red Data Books and other legal documents in terms of orchid taxonomy make it difficult for conservation-based organisations and the development of measures to counteract the extinction of threatened taxa. It is long overdue to reissue the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (2008). Twelve years after its publication, a vast amount of new data has been accumulated, including the status of populations of threatened orchids in Russia.