In South Tyrol up to now four orchid species listed in the annex II and IV of the Council Directive
92/43/EEC have been confirmed: Cypripedium calceolus, Himantoglossum adriaticum, Liparis loeselii
and Spiranthes aestivalis. To promote conservation measures according to the habitat-directive,
data on their morphology, distribution, population size, biology, ecology, status,
... [Show full abstract] endangerment,
protection and need for further research are compiled. Whereas the southtyrolean population of
C. calceolus shows to be quite stable, all three other species suffer severely as H. adriaticum, classified
as Critically endangered, or are even missing since recently as L. loeselii and S. aestivalis, classified
as Extinct. Important sites of C. calceolus still are not protected, they need urgent conservation
measures to meet directive requirements. Sustainable managment of the known habitats of the two
wetland orchid species is recommended as well as further conservation measures for openland
habitats in the Etsch valley between Meran and Salurn to favour their recolonisation.