Abstract
Youssef, S., Mahmood A., Mahdi H. & E. Vela (2015): New contribution on Orchids (Orchidaceae) of Duhok Province in Kurdistan Region (N-Iraq).- J. Eur. Orch. 47(2-4): 501-516. Kurdistan Region (KRG) is a part of the Irano-Anatolian hotspot but a coldspot for floristic knowledge. During our previous surveys (2013) in Duhok province, we found 10 orchids taxa; One of them (Ophrys cilicica) was considered new for Iraq. Thanks to continuity of botanical survey (2014 – 2015), we found new 8 Orchids taxa where majority of records were new localities: re-discovering O. reinholdii subsp. straussii, very rare species reported only one time in mountain of Rowanduz district (MRO), confirming then it really occurs in KRG. Furthermore, Orchis spitzelii subsp. latiflora was new confirmed taxa for KRG and for Iraq; It is a very rare species having a small population which are strongly threatened by increasing over-gathering their tubers. Two other taxa considered as rare: Anacamptis pyramidalis subsp. pyramidalis (found in West Duhok Province and threatened by its habitat degradation) and Himantoglossum comperianum considered new for mountain of Amadiy district (MAM). The other four taxa (Orchis simia subsp. simia; Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans; Limodorum abortivum; Himantoglossum caprinum subsp. caprinum), have been well reported as occasionally occurring in KRG. New localities for MAM district were added. The easiness to find new records and localities during a short period of botanical field surveys in a limited area (Duhok governorate) suggests that other discoveries might be achieved in the future.