Anthemis virescens
Anthemis virescens Velen.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv)]. IUCN(R), BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Annual or biennial herb. Stems numerous, 40–60 cm high, branched, glabrous. Leaves bipinnatisect, very sparsely hairy, the middle cauline 5 × 4.5 cm, lobes narrowly linear, mucronate. Capitula 30–35 mm in diameter. Involucre glabrous; bracts coriaceous, the outer oblong-triangular, acute, the others oblong-lanceolate, with lacerate margin and rather lacerate-hyaline apex. Ligules yellow. Achenes 1–1.5 mm, weakly 4-angled, granulate-scabrid on the angles. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VIII–X. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in grassy and sandy places, cultivated grounds, abandoned fields and wood-margins in the oak forest belt. Forms fragmented populations with scattered single individuals or in small groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast, Balkan Range (Eastern), Rhodopi Mts (Eastern), Toundzha Hilly Country, Strandzha Mts, up to 300–500 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Poorly studied; most likely are habitat destruction (e.g. for crop cultivation), increase of the density of shrub and tree cover, ruderalization, low competitiveness of the species.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species under the national Biodiversity Act. Part of the localities fall within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Comprehensive studies on the size and abundance of the populations, species’ biology and ecology, and major threats; designation of protected areas in some of the known localities (e.g. in Eastern Rhodopi Mts), monitoring of selected populations and collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Fernandes 1976; Kuzmanov 1984.
Author: Vladimir Vladimirov
