Apium nodiflorum
Apium nodiflorum (L.) Lag.
Apiaceae – Parsley family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant. Stems 20–40(100) cm, procumbent or ascending, rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves petiolate, oblong, 10–20 × 3–5 cm, 1-pinnate, with 3–6 pairs of serrate segments; upper leaves smaller. Compound umbels at the stem nodes, opposite to the leaves, on short peduncles. Rays 3–13, without bracts. Umbels 5–6 mm in diameter, with 5–7 bracteoles. Flowers white, small. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VIII–X. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Near springs in places with low eutrophication – overflows, swamps, running water. Accompanying species are Sium latifolium, Sparganium erectum, Berula erecta, Catabrosa aqutica, and Ranunculus repens.The distribution is very restricted; 3 populations known, the largest is around Devnya’s karst springs, where the occupied area is about 400 m2, the two others are considerably smaller. The observations in 2007 showed approx. 20% decrease of the population’s area as compared with the data from 1994.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – near Devnya town; Drenaka stone pit near Beloslav town; Sveti Konstantin resort – possibly extinct; southern – near Kiten village); up to 100 m alt.
General distribution. Europe, Mediterranean area, C Asia.
Threats. Limited distribution; unfavourable changes of the habitats such as capture of the spring’s water, redirection of the Devnya River course, grazing, industrial pollution; tourist impacts (Sveti Konstantin resort).
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the Biodiversity Act.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population status; elaboration of an action plan for the species including special measures for habitat protection; listing of the species in the Biodiversity Act as a taxon, whose habitats are a priority for conservation.
Note. The report from Kiten village area near Dyavolskoto Blato by Delipavlov & Stoichev (1994) is somewhat doubtful since no herbarium voucher has been deposited, and the reported habitat is not typical for the species.
References. Yordanov 1931; Assenov 1984; Delipavlov & Stoichev 1994; Petrova 2003.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
