Adonis microcarpa
Adonis microcarpa DC.
Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Annual herbaceous plant. Stems erect, 4–45 cm high, strongly sulcate. Leaves 4–5-pinnatisect, with narrowly linear, up to 1 mm wide, mucronate segments. Flowers erect, solitary, terminal. Sepals usually 5, reddish-brown. Petals 5–8, 10–20 mm, narrowly obovate, deep red to wine red, more often with a black spot at base. Fl. IV–VI, fr. VI–VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Early spring weed, scanty, growing on cultivated lands (near corn-fields, field boundaries, in crops), in plains. Only 4, very fragmented populations have been confirmed. Individuals usually are in groups of 1–10 (up to 50) in 1 m2.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (eastern – Malko Bryagovo village), Toundzha Hilly Plain (Gorno Aleksandrovo, Granitovo, Turnicheni villages); 100–600 m alt. The species is reported for Sofia region (Gorni Lozen, Dolni Lozen, Novi Han, Kazichene villages), Haskovo district (between Skobelevo village and Haskovo town), Topolovgrad district, Bourgas district (Kameno village).
General distribution. S Europe (the Mediterranean region), SW Asia, N Africa, Macaronesia, naturalized in Australia.
Threats. Limited distribution of the species; agriculture intensification; abandonment of agricultural lands; invasion of competitive plant species and subsequent turfing.
Conservation measures taken. Some of the species localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species by the national Biodiversity Act. Research on population number and range. Involvement of farmers or municipalities within the framework of the National Agro Ecological Program in the maintaining of biodiversity and preservation of habitats of threatened plant species in intensively cultivated fields. Preservation of seed material in the National Seed Genebank of Bulgaria.
References. Panov & Assenov 1970; Koeva 1984.
Author: Daniella Ivanova
