Soil and Botanical Characteristics of Biocenoses That Are Habitats of Cypripedium guttatum Sw. f. albiflorum Aver. (Orchidaceae) in Central Yakutia

A comparative analysis of soil and the microbiological and botanical characteristics of biocenoses that are habitats of rare endangered species of the family Orchidaceae Juss.—its white-flowered form Cypripedium guttatum Sw. f. albiflorum Aver.) and the ordinary form Cypripedium guttatum Sw.—has been performed for the first time. It is established that soil conditions are decisive for the distribution of cenopopulations of Cypripedium guttatum within particular biocenoses under the cryoarid climate of Central Yakutia. The particle-size composition of soil, humus content in the upper layer, hydrothermal conditions, salinity, and pH are some important factors affecting the development of this group of orchids. The differences between phytocenoses in morphological parameters are caused by the ecological conditions of the existence of C. guttatum cenopopulations. Cypripedium guttatum Sw. f. albiflorum, growing on mucky-carbonate soil of biocenosis-1, has a larger parameters of leaves and bracts than Cypripedium guttatum Sw. of the ordinary form on pale gray soil of biocenosis-2. The mucky-carbonate soil of pit 1ZH-21 of biocenosis-1 is the most optimal for the existence of soil microorganisms. The microbial communities of forest cryogenic soils are predominated by soil microscopic fungi (micromycetes); therefore, it may be assumed that they play an important role in the development of rare plant species Orchidaceae Juss.