Andrachne telephioides
Andrachne telephioides L.
Euphorbiaceae – Spurge family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Semi-shrub, with branched rhizome. Stems ascendant, 7–30(40) cm high, simple or branched. Leaves 2.5–11 mm long, with tiny petioles, obovate to elliptical, shortly acuminate, blue-green, with uneven cartilaginous margin. Stipules lanceolate, membranous, white, often reddening. Flowers unisexual, monoecious, 2–3 or solitary in leaf-axils. Sepals of male flowers pale to yellow-green with a wide, white membranous margin; petals white, cuneiform or spathulate, at apex rotundate or incised. Sepals of female flowers green, with narrow white membranous margin; petals undeveloped. Fruit a capsule. Fl. V–X, fr. VIII–X. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. On dry sandy, stony or grassy places and meadows, also beside roads and near urban areas. Very fragmented populations; individuals not numerous, growing solitary and in groups in open grasslands.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Znepole region (Golo Burdo), Slavyanka Mt (below Petrovo village), Thracian Lowland (Besaparski Ridove, Pazardzhik district; Oustina village, Plovdiv district; Levka village, Svilengrad district); up to 500 m alt. The species is reported for Black Sea coast (Emine cape), valley of Struma River (southern – Kulata, Novo Hodzhovo and Dolno Spanchevo villages). Most of the literature data were reported before 1961.
General distribution. Mediterranean region, SE Europe (Crimea), the Caucasus, SW Asia extending to NW India.
Threats. Limited distribution of the species; economic activities (agriculture and land ploughing, change of management regime of non-agricultural lands, urban development).
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. Population monitoring. Preserving of seed material in the National Seed Genebank of Bulgaria.
References. Kuzmanov 1979, 1984a.
Author: Daniella Ivanova
