The complex Gymnadenia conopsea s.l. represents a very problematic group in terms of taxonomy, showing a wide morphological, phenological, genetical and cytogenetical variability. The aggregate G. conopsea encompasses a range of taxa, two of which, G. conopsea (L.) R. Br. s.s. and G. densiflora (Wahlenb.) A. Dietr., have been acknowledged as beeing a species level. Individual taxa cannot be safely distinguished on the basis of morphological characteristics in all cases. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion concerning the taxonomical value of taxons within the G. conopsea complex. The complex is represented by a variety of cytotypes, while the major tetraploid cytotypes represent the above mentioned G. conopsea and G. densiflora taxa, that are easily distinguishable by means of flow cytometry. The taxonomical classification of minority cytotypes is not clear. For these reasons, to be able to obtain more detailed information, an application of different approaches from the field of morphology, cytogenetics and molecular genetics is suitable when evaluating the populations. In this thesis, morphological characteristics, AFLP and an analysis of microsatellites along with a measurement of ploid level using FCM have been used for evaluation. On the basis of evaluating a multidimensional cluster analysis and a dendrogram created by the UPGMA method combining these data, a specific dissimilarity of the G. densiflora and G. conopsea taxon has been confirmed. Based on the comparative analysis of microsatellite loci and overlapping morphometric characteristics of tetraploid and octoploid G. conopsea cytotype it can be assumed that the octoploid cytotype is a separate chromosomal aberration of tetraploid plants.

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