Locality of Orpheus flower

Overview

The scientific name of the Orpheus flower is Haberlea rhodopensis. It is named after its discoverer - the Hungarian botanist Emerich Friwaldski. The genus name is of the learned botanist Haberle, and the species name is in honor of the Rhodope Mountains, where it was first discovered. For this reason it is also called Rhodope.

Orpheus flower is a relict species dating from the end of the Tertiary. Until then, he inhabited all of Europe and Asia. Today it is found only in Bulgaria and a little in northern Greece, which is why it has been declared a Balkan endemic. With the onset of the ice age, the plant died in many places. It is preserved in separate shady and rocky areas, wet and deep valleys. In the struggle for survival, specific biological devices were made in it, thanks to which it has survived to this day.

The most important is its ability to turn into anabiosis (imaginary death) under unfavorable conditions, to stay in this state for a long time and to revive under suitable conditions. The research of our scientist Ivan Ganchev shows that the Orpheus flower can stay dry for 31 months and placed under appropriate conditions to restore its vital functions. This feature remains a mystery to scientists to this day.

Several localities have been registered on the territory of Ardino municipality, two of which have been declared protected. The locality near the village of Dyadovtsi is located on the right shady, rocky bank of the Arda River. This is the first locality declared protected in 1978. Its area is 0.1 ha.

The following year, the deposit near the village of Lyubino (in the Guilich area), near the Hladilnata peshtera Cave, was also declared protected. It is located on a northern rocky slope, and its area is 0.1 ha.

There is also Orpheus flower in the area of ​​the Krivus fortress near the village of Bashevo - on the steep wet slopes of the Arda river.
The site is suitable for tourism.