Bupleurum longifolium
Bupleurum longifolium L.
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR A4c; B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant. Stem 30–100 cm high, erect, glabrous. Leaves alternate, broadly elliptical to ovate, basal petiolate, cauline sessile, cordate and amplexicaul at base, glabrous. Inflorescence compound umbel with 5–10 uneven rays, bracts 4–5 ovate to suborbicular. Bracteoles 4–5, suborbicular. Flowers small, yellow, 15–20 in a simple umbel. Fruit dry, 4–5 mm long, dehiscent in two parts (mericarps). Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by vegetative means and seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in shady and wet, stony places along streams on shallow soil in beech and coniferous forests.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central – the valleys of Praskalska, Tazha and Gabrovnitsa rivers), Znepole Region (Strazha Mt, Tran district); 800–1800 m alt. The localities in the Balkan Range need confirmation since the species has not been collected there in the last 100 years.
General distribution. C and E Europe (the Alps, Carpathians and the mountains in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula).
Threats. The localities in Bulgaria are in the southernmost periphery of the distribution area of the species; restricted distribution; isolated populations with low number of individuals.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the national Biodiversty Act. The localities in the Balkan Range are within the borders of Central Balkan National Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Detailed study of the area and number of individuals per population is necessary, biology and ecology of the species and threats; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Tutin 1968; Assenov 1982, 1984.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
