Anthemis sancti-johannis
Anthemis sancti-johannis Stoj., Stef. & Turrill
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii); C2a(i)]. IUCN(R), BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbs with thick root. Stems numerous, 40–90 cm high, sparsely branched, erect or ascending, with simple hairs, leafy. Leaves pinnate, sessile, with simple hairs. Capitula solitary at the top of the stems or branches. Involucral bracts convex; ligules orange; disk florets numerous, yellow; receptacle semispherical. Achenes obconical, with dentate corona. Fl. VI – IX, fr. VII – X. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative shoots.
Habitats and populations. Rocky, herbaceous and shrubby places, in open beech, spruce or mixed forests and juniper scrub. The population is strongly fragmented, consisting of small groups or single individuals far from each other, often on eroded ground, where reproduction is suppressed.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central), Mt Slavyanka (Parilski Dol locality), Rila Mts (Rila monastery, above Pastra village, Malyovitsa, Brichebor peak, Dupnishka Bistritsa River); 1000–2200 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Significant anthropogenic pressure (pasture, tourism, development of ruderal vegetation and deposition of waste), very limited reproductive capacity.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some of the localities are within the borders of Rila and Central Balkan National Parks, Rilski Manastir Nature Park, and in Alibotush Strict Nature Reserve as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Investigation of the size and area of distribution of the populations. Monitoring of the state of the populations in order to optimase the conservation measures implemented. Collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
Note. In the taxonomic literature the taxon is accepted as: Cota wiedemanniana (Fisch.) Holub subsp. sancti-johannis (Stoj., Stef. & Turrill) Oberpr. & Greuter
References. Fernandes 1976; Kuzmanov 1984; Bondev 2006.
Authors: Dimitar Peev, Sonya Tsoneva
