Aubrieta columnae
Aubrieta columnae Guss. subsp. pirinica Assenov
Brassicaceae – Cabbage family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii, iii)+2ab(ii, iii)]. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Caespitose perennial with procumbent or ascending stems. Leaves alternate, oblong to obovate, covered with hairs. Inflorescences racemose, few-flowered. Petals violet, oblong-obovate, claw long. Siliqua 5–12(15) mm, with stellate hairs. Seeds dark brown. Fl. V–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollinated. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Grows in calcareous rocky and stony places, usually on shallow soil, in the beech and coniferous vegetation belts. Populations are small and fragmented.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (northern – Baba peak), Slavyanka Mt; between 1000 and 1800 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Tourism, grazing, trampling, wood cutting, and forest fires cause habitat changes and have negative impacts on the population and species’ reproduction.
Conservation measures taken. The locality in Slavyanka Mt is included in the Alibotoush Strict Nature Reserve. The localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Restriction of the tourism and other human activities in the species localities. Research into the possibilities for ex situ cultivation of the species.
References. Assenov 1970; Bozhilova & Tonkov 1984; Ančev 2001, 2007; Ančev & Goranova 2009; Anchev 2006.
Authors: Mincho Anchev & Valentina Goranova
