Vakhrushkin V. Vakhrushkin V.S. Paphiopedilum Reitz. (Orchidaceae Juss.): morphology, ecology, introduction.

The thesis is devoted to the complex study of the biology of the introduced species of the genus Paphіopedіlum and the results of the search, collection and semi-stationary study of plants in the natural populations (tropics of Vietnam). We specified the structure of the shoot systems of four model species of Paphiopedilum [(P. appletonianum (Gower) Rolfe, P. callosum (Reichb.) Pfitz., P. delenatii Guill., P. insigne (Wall. ex Lindl.) Pfitz.], besides, we studied the peculiarities of morphogeny of these plants in the conservatory and in culture in vitro. As a result of our comparative-morphological analysis of the model species, the essential common characters and distinctions of their shoots, leaves, buds, flowers, fruits, seeds were established. We considerably improved the methods of the seed and microclonal propagation and cultivation, and we proposed the optimal mixtures of soil and the system of mineral nutrition for the introduced plants of Paphiopedilum. As a result of our study, the collection of Paphiopedilum plants in the N.N.Grishko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was greatly enlarged, and it includes at present time 19 species and 42 sorts.