Astrodaucus littoralis
Astrodaucus littoralis (M. Bieb.) Drude
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v); D]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Biennial herbs with very long tap-root. Stem 25–70 cm high, branched. Leaves pinnatisect, glabrous, or sparsely hairy, basal leaves with long petioles, upper sessile, amplexicaul. Inflorescence compound umbel with 8–20 nearly equal rays, umbels with numerous flowers. Bracts softly hairy, acute, with wide membranous margin. Petals white, obovate to orbicular, deeply emarginate, peripheral flowers bigger than others. Fruit composed of two ribbed mericarps with spikes. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Coastal dunes. Forms fragmented populations. About 5 localities are known with approximately 50 individuals in total.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Northern – near Varna in Pasha-dere locality, Shablenska Tuzla, E of Durankulak lake; Southern – the beach near Ahtopol, estuary of Veleka river near Sinemorets village).
General distribution. Eastern Europe, Caucasus.
Threats. Digging of the sea shore for sand for construction activities, destruction of individual plants due to active tourism, pollution, waste deposition, development of tourist infrastructure on the dunes.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some of the localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Investigation of the number and area of the populations, biology and ecology of the species, development of an action plan, collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank of Bulgaria.
References. Assenov 1982; Andreev 1984.
Authors: Dimitar Peev, Sonya Tsoneva
