NIGRITELLA-CARPATICA (ORCHIDACEAE ORCHIDE AE) - A RELIC ENDEMIC OF THE EASTERN CARPATHIANS - TAXONOMY, DISTRIBUTION, KARYOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY

Nigritella carpatica (Zapalowicz) Teppner, Klein & Zagulskij, comb. no va, is described in full detail. This species, rather isolated in the genus, is characterized by very narrow leaves, small flowers (lip 4,5- 5,9 mm) and relatively long spurs (1-1,5 mm), dark lilac-red flower bu ds and flowers which become light pink to whitish in the course of the anthesis. The species is endemic in the northwestern part of the East Carpathian Mountains and is known from six locations (in Rumania and the Ukraine) up till now, where it grows in montane and subalpine gras sland. N. carpatica is diploid with 2n = 2x = 40 chromosomes and propa gates sexually. In one out of three karyologically investigated popula tions one individuum with 2n = 3x = 60 chromosomes was detected and in two populations individuals with one B-chromosome were observed.