Achillea thracica
Achillea thracica Velen.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii,iv); C2a(i)]. IUCN(R), BDA, BC. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial. Stems 30–50 cm. Leaves pinnate, with linear-lanceolate to linear-triangular lobes, puberulent, densely glandular-punctate. Inflorescence corymbose, with many capitula; ligules golden yellow. Achenes oblong, epappose. Fl. VI–IV, fr. VII–X. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, dispersed through anemochory and zoochory, and by vegetative means (with rhizomatous shoots).
Habitats and populations. Grows in dry grassy places along roads, in scrub and forest glades in the xerothermic oak forest belts. Populations are small, fragmented, each fragment comprising a few individuals. More compact and abundant subpopulation is to be found in a forest of Quercus pubescens and Carpinus orientalis some 3–4 km north-east of Manole village, Plovdiv district. The area occupied there is about 600–700 m2. In some places the species is among the pioneer elements inhabiting recently established man-made habitats.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Thracian Lowland (in the region of the villages Manole and Belozem, Sadovo town, Plovdiv district), Toundzha Hilly Country (between Manolovo and Skobelevo villages, Kazanlak district); 150–300 m alt. Reported for the district of Topolovgrad town but not confirmed.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. The species is under high direct or indirect anthropogenic pressure; close proximity to settlements, roads and arable land causes reduction of population size.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species with priority conserved habitats according to the national Biodiversity Act. Listed in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants and in Annex 1 of the Bern Convention (1979). The localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. A proposal for designation of the locality near Manole village as a protected area has been submitted. An Action plan for conservation of the species is in a process of elaboration.
Conservation measures needed. Estimation of the populations’ numerical strengths and areas occupied; research into the species biology and ecology; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Velenovský 1891; Kuzmanov 1978, 1984a; Ganchev 1992.
Author: Stefan Stanev
