Apparent hybridisation between species of Cephalanthera (Orchidaceae) in Slovakia: science uncovers a cautionary tale.
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s12225-026-10407-y.pdf
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3.45 MB
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Resource type
Journal article
Date published
July 7, 2026
Abstract
Several putative hybrids between the Eurasian orchid species Cephalanthera rubra and C. longifolia found in woods near Švošov, Slovakia were subjected to careful morphological and micromorphological examination. Characters as diverse as flower colour, flower size, lip shape, leaf shape, leaf marginal cell size and flowering period all suggested intermediacy between the presumptive parents, encouraging belief in the accuracy of the initial identification. Samples for Sanger sequencing were taken from the Švošov hybrids and both parental species, not only from Švošov but also from other populations in the region. DNA 'barcode' analyses of nuclear ribosomal ITS and three plastid genes, intended to confirm hybridity and distinguish ovule parent from pollen parent, actually showed that the 'hybrids' were morphologically and molecularly divergent individuals of C. rubra. Instead, variation in both genomes among the samples collectively representing both C. rubra and the 'hybrids' suggests that Švošov more likely supports a 'pseudo-hybrid zone' formed between two contrasting races of C. rubra. Confident identification of orchid hybrids, especially in taxonomically challenging groups, evidently requires confirmation from a combination of nuclear and plastid data; we suspect that many of the records of hybrids that increasingly populate biodiversity databases are incorrect.
Project(s)
Priority 2: Trait Diversity and Function
Journal title
Kew Bulletin
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Place of publication
Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany
ISSN
0075-5974
eISSN
1874-933X
Date accepted
March 31, 2026
Official URL
Rights statement
In Copyright
Additional information
IF = 0.7 (2025)