ATLAS OF GREEK ORCHIDS GR (2)

V.I: Genera Epipactis, Cephalanthera, Limodorum, Neottia, Epipogium, Corallorhiza, Goodyera, Spiranthes, Platanthera, Gymnadenia, Pseudorchis, Coeloglossum, Dactylorhiza, Serapias, Anacamptis, Neotinea, Orchis, Himantoglossum V.II: The genus Ophrys Greece constituted in the past and still is a familiar place for those who want to see and admire one of the richest and most spectacular floras in Europe in its natural environment. Among the plant families that are distributed in Greece, the orchid family (Orchidaceae) is one of the most interesting, having 193 species and subspecies, which are classified into 19 genera. The vast variability of the orchids with their complex and admirable biology, has made this plant family an object of systematic and continuous study for many years. The genera Dactylorhiza, Epipactis and Ophrys have a prominent position in this process. Many species of these genera – especially the most variable ones – were extensively split resulting in taxonomic chaos. However, in many cases, the use of molecular markers and other techniques led to the solution of several taxonomic problems, shedding light on the already confusing classification of the European orchids.