Arenaria gypsophiloides
Arenaria gypsophiloides L.
Caryophyllaceae – Pink family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant. Stems 7–50 cm high. Leaves filiform, shorter than the internodes. Flowers in a panicle. Fruit a capsule. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in grassy, rocky, calcareous, open places, in the belt of xerothermic oak forests; grows also on serpentine rocks. It is accompanied by Achillea depressa, Goniolimon tataricum, Allium moschatum, Xeranthemum annuum, Dichanthium ischaemum, Stipa capillata, Eryngium campestre, Teucrium polium, Tragus racemosus, Linaria genistifolia, Artemisia santonicum subsp. patens, Centaurea gracilenta, Herniaria hirsuta, Astragalus onobrychis, and Marrubium peregrinum.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Southern – Kamenar village, Burgas district), Rhodopi Mts (Central – Parvenets village, Plovdiv district), Thracian Lowland, Toundzha Hilly Country (between villages of Vratitsa and Hadzhiite); between 100–450 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine.
Threats. Grazing and construction of roads and high ways.
Conservation measures taken. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Inclusion of the species populations within the borders of protected areas.
References. Kozhuharov & Kuzmanov 1966; Petrova 1992; Dimitrov & Tzonev 2001.
Author: Dimitar Dimitrov
