Alchemilla catachnoa
Alchemilla catachnoa Rothm.
Rosaceae – Rose family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iv)+2ab(ii,iv,v); C2a(i)]. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous rhizomatous perennial. Stems 30–40 cm, erect, densely patently hairy up to inflorescence. Basal leaves suborbicular, 11−13-lobed, glabrous above, with sparse hairs beneath; petioles 10–18 cm, hairy. Cauline leaves numerous, large, 5- to nearly 9-lobed. Inflorescence narrow, glomeruli dense. Flowers 3.5–4 mm in diameter, yellowish green. Sepals ovate-lanceolate; epicalyx segments lanceolate, entire, longer than sepals. Fruit a single achene. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by vegetative means (with rhizomes) and seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in moist grassy places and by streams on shallow stony soil. Individuals usually grow individually, less often in small groups. The species occurs in herbaceous and riparian communities in the region of the upper timberline together with A. jumrukczalica, A. achtarowii, Hypericum maculatum, Myosotis sp., Veronica chamaedrys, Caltha palustris, Rumex alpinus, Astrantia major, etc. Populations are small and strongly fragmented.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central – Vezhen and Levski peaks, Eho chalet), Rila Mts (Elenin peak, Ribni Ezera, Parangalitsa Strict Nature Reserve), Pirin Mts (Demyanitsa chalet); between 1800 and 2300 m alt.
General distribution. Albania, Bulgaria, R Macedonia.
Threats. Collection of the species for medicinal purposes; limited distribution; low population density; trampling and destruction of plants by tourists; climate changes such as warming and aridisation.
Conservation measures taken. The localities are in Central Balkan National Park, including Tsarichina Strict Nature Reserve, Rila National Park, including Parangalitsa Strict Nature Reserve, Rilski Manastir Nature Park, Pirin National Park as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Population monitoring aimed at the optimization of the species protection regime; ex situ propagation and cultivation of the species, and if needed, re-introduction of the taxon to its natural habitats.
References. Rothmaler 1938; Pawłowski 1953; Walters & Pawłowski 1968; Assenov 1973, 1984; Kurtto et al. 2008.
Author: Antonina Vitkova
