Orchids in the Devin Peninsula nature reserve
Orchids of various genera and species find ideal conditions in the Devin Peninsula nature reserve.
The annual weather pattern has a very noticeable effect on the development and population of orchids in the orchid meadow in the nature reserve. After heavy rainfall in the winter months and late snowmelt, the orchid meadow can be partially flooded. In the following year, no orchids at all can be found on areas that have since dried out. Only the year after next will orchids appear again in isolated cases. If the conditions then remain favourable, there will be a remarkable surge in development on these areas in the following years. This is particularly true for the stiff-leaved orchid (Dactylorchiza incarnata) and the marsh sitter (Epipactia palustria).
The annual mowing of the areas, including the removal of the mown material, is of fundamental importance for safeguarding the orchid population in the orchid meadow. These measures should only be carried out after the orchid seeds have matured and have been discharged, i.e. in early autumn. In recent years, mowing has been carried out regularly on behalf of the lower nature conservation authority of the Vorpommern-Rügen district.
Broad-leaved marsh orchid
The broad-leaved orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis) lives up to its other pseudonyms ‘May orchid’ and ‘May cuckoo flower’ with its early start of flowering and main flowering period in May. The first rosettes of the plants can be found as early as the beginning of April. From time to time, several plants form conspicuous clumps, which then bear several flowers. The population of this orchid is secured in the nature reserve. It often colonises sites outside the specially protected areas. All seed capsules are usually fully formed in the annual fruit clusters of the broad-leaved orchid in the nature reserve, which indicates a good population of insects for pollinating the flowers.
The broad-leaved orchid is the most common meadow orchid in northern Germany. Decades ago, entire meadows would glow with purple-red flowers in May. But as a result of the conversion of former pastureland into arable grassland and the melioration of wet meadows, the broad-leaved orchid has disappeared from these former sites.
Today, this orchid, like the other wet meadow orchids, is highly endangered. Almost all of its current locations are in protected areas.
Early marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata)
The flesh-coloured orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata) prefers the wetter areas on the orchid meadow in the nature reserve. The flowering period follows that of the broad-leaved orchid, 3-4 weeks later. As a result, the flowering periods of these two meadow orchids overlap and bastards with mixed characteristics of both orchids can also be found.
No other locations of the flesh-coloured orchid are known in the immediate vicinity of the Devin Peninsula Nature Reserve. This orchid is only found scattered on the islands of Rügen and Hiddensee. These occurrences are partially extinct, so that the protection of the orchid on the Devin Peninsula is of particular importance. As a result of the wind dispersal of the tiny orchid seeds from the Devin Peninsula nature reserve, there is the possibility of re-colonisation on suitable meadow areas.
Marsh helleborine (Epipactis palustris)
The marsh sitter (Epipactis palustris) is an integral part of the orchid flora on the orchid meadow in the nature reserve. This plant, which is not very competitive, mainly colonises sites with little lush vegetation. After high water levels in the orchid meadow, the marsh sitter mainly colonises the areas that have dried out again in subsequent years. However, this pretty orchid is increasingly displaced as the accompanying flora grows. Annual mowing and removal of the cuttings therefore have a very positive influence on the population.
