PECULIARITIES OF SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ORCHID SPECIES NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
The seasonal development of 16 orchid species is studied north of the Arctic Circle (Murmansk Region) in 1992-2008. 14 species of 16 have monocyclic summer-green shoots. Two species - <i>Calypso bulbosa </i>and <i>Goodyera repens</i>, have winter-green shoots and bi- and polycyclic shoots respectively. The majority of orchid species flowers in the middle of July, on the peak of the growing period. Phenologies of the 16 orchid species are discussed in regard to the duration of the growing period. It is revealed that the complete seasonal development with seed dispersal of seven species (<i>Cypripedium calceolus, Epipogium aphyllum, Epipactis atrorubens, Goodyera repens, Gymnadenia conopsea, Malaxis monophyllos, Platanthera bifolia</i>) match or exceed the duration of short growing period in the north. An extended seasonal development is typical for <i>Hammarbya paludosa</i>, however, the fruiting was not observed in its populations during 8-years monitoring since 2001.