Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii
Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii Kellerer & Sünd.
Brassicaceae – Cabbage family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(ii); C2a(i)]. IUCN(R). BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb. Stem 6–12 cm. Leaves entire; basal in a rosette, covered with appressed medifixed hairs on both sides. Inflorescence a terminal raceme. Petals white, 7–9 mm long, oblong-obovate. Siliqua linear, glabrous. Seeds brown, not winged. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollinated. Reproduction by seeds dispersed by wind and through barochory.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in calcareous rocky and stony places (rocky terraces, rock crevices) in the high mountain zone. Populations are fragmented, isolated, represented by single individuals or small groups of several plants.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (northern – slopes of Vihren peak, Golyam and Maluk Kazan, Banski Suhodol, Bayuvi Dupki, Kamenititsa, Razlozhki Suhodol Cirques and Golyam Sredonos Ridge; between 2000 and 2800 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. The intensive mountain tourism and trampling by tourists hiking away from the marked trails threaten the populations and disturb species reproduction. Erosion processes and natural disasters cause decrease of the area of occupancy.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Listed in the 1997 IUCN Red list of Threatened plants (Walters & Gillet 1998) as rare. The localities are included in Pirin National Park and Bayuvi Dupki - Dzhindzhiritsa Strict Nature Reserve, as well as in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Population monitoring aiming at the optimization of a protection regime; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; studies on the possibilities for ex situ cultivation.
References. Assenov 1970; Andreev 1984; Walter & Gillet 1998; Ančev 2001, 2007; Vladimirov 2006a.
Authors: Mincho Anchev & Valentina Goranova
