Aethionema arabicum
Aethionema arabicum (L.) O.E. Schulz
Brassicaceae – Cabbage family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii,v); D]. BDA. Tertiary relict.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous annual. Stem 6–7(10) cm, usually branched. Leaves ovate, alternate, cordate-amplexicaul at base. Flowers small, pale pink or white. Siliculae densely crowded, imbricate, each with up to 6, small, ovate seeds. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, dispersed through anemochory and barochory.
Habitats and populations. Grows on strongly eroded limestone terrains, open unstable screes and by stony trails in scrub of Syringa vulgaris, Jasminum fruticans and Paliurus spina-christi at the periphery of a small forest of Quercus pubescens and Carpinus orientalis in the xerothermic oak-forests belt. A pioneer species with low competitive capacity. The total area of the locality is less than 200–300 m2; the population comprises some 50–60 specimens.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (eastern – on the southern slope in the upper part of Lale Bair hill, about 1–2 km south-east of Sotirya village, Sliven district); 450–500 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, Turkey), SW Asia.
Threats. The small size of total area of the locality within the country, the small population size and its occurrence in a region with intensive anthropogenic activities threaten the species with extinction.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. A proposal for designation of the locality as a protected area has been submitted. An Action plan for conservation of the species is in a process of elaboration.
Conservation measures needed. Deposition of seeds in the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; research into the species biology and ecology; ex situ cultivation of the species in botanical and rock gardens.
References. Stojanoff & Stefanoff 1923; Vălev 1970; Stanev 1981, 1984b.
Author: Stefan Stanev
