Alchemilla asteroantha
Alchemilla asteroantha Rothm.
Rosaceae – Rose family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iv,v); C2a(i)]. IUCN(R), BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial. Stems 10–15 cm, slender, delicate, always flexuous, with appressed hairs below, glabrous above. Basal leaves reniform, 7- or nearly 9-lobed, glabrous above, with appressed hairs on the veins and basal lobes beneath; petioles 2 to 12 cm long; cauline leaves small. Inflorescence small, lax. Flowers 5–6 mm in diameter, green. Sepals lanceolate; epicalyx segments linear-lanceolate, longer than sepals. Fruit a single achene. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Pollinated by insects. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means. The species has good reproductive potential, but renovation is slow.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in moist rocky and grassy places and rock crevices. Grows on shallow stony soils in the upper forests and subalpine vegetation belts. Individuals are scattered or form small groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central – Triglav peak; region of Mazalat and Ouzana chalets); 1800–2000 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Romania.
Threats. Limited distribution; trampling and specimen destruction by tourists; grazing, climate changes such as warming and aridisation.
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 situated within Central Balkan National Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Population monitoring especially on population state and reproductive potential; ex situ propagation of the species and maintenance of an ex situ collection; if necessary re-introduction of the species in the natural habitats from the ex situ collection.
References. Rothmaler 1938; Pawłowski 1953; Walters & Pawłowski 1968; Assenov 1973, 1984; Walter & Gillet 1998; Kurtto et al. 2007.
Author: Antonina Vitkova
