Alchemilla achtarowii
Alchemilla achtarowii Pawł.
Rosaceae – Rose family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,v)]. IUCN(R), BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial. Stems 35–45 cm, with patent hairs, dense in the lower part and sparse in the upper part. Basal leaves suborbicular, 9–11-lobed, glabrescent above, densely hairy beneath; petioles 15–30 cm long; cauline leaves large, with the same indumentum. Inflorescence many-flowered; glomeruli dense. Flowers 4.5–6.5 mm in diameter, greenish yellow. Sepals and epicalyx segments ovate-oblong, the latter usually with 2–4 teeth. Fruit a single achene. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means (through rhizome shoots). The species has good reproductive potential.
Habitats and populations. Grows in moist places by streams on shallow soils in the beech forests and subalpine vegetation belts. Forms groups in plant communities of Geranium macrorrhizum, Angellica pancicii, Alchemilla plicatula, A. jumrukczalica, A. pyrenaica, A. catachnoa, Rumex alpinus, Hypericum maculatum, Rubus idaeus, Rosa sp., Myosotis sp., Veronica chamaedrys, Caltha palustris, Cortusa matthioli, Heracleum verticillatum, Veratrum lobelianum, Telekia speciosa, Bistorta major, etc.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Central – Rai chalet, Raisko Pruskalo waterfall, Levski peak, Levski, Dobrila and Eho chalets, Yumruka peak, Vartopa locality, Tazha chalet); between 1700 and 2100 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Collection of specimens for medicinal and ornamental purposes; limited distribution and low population density; trampling by tourists; climate changes – warming and drying up; changes in water regime (drying) of mountain streams the banks of which are the main habitat for the species.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Included in 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants with a category “rare”. The population is within the Central Balkan National Park; some localities are within Tsarichina, Stara Reka, Dzhendema and Sokolna Strict Nature Reserves. All species occurrences are situated within sites of the European ecological network Natura in Bulgaria. The species is preserved in the ex situ live collection of the IBER, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Conservation measures needed. Population monitoring aimed at the optimization of the species protection regime; if necessary re-introduction of the species in the natural habitats from the ex situ collection.
References. Pawłowski 1952, 1953; Walters & Pawłowski 1968; Assenov 1973, 1984; Walter & Gillet 1998; Kurtto et al. 2007.
Author: Antonina Vitkova
