Calystegia soldanella
Calystegia soldanella (L.) R. Br.
Convolvulaceae – Bindweed family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb. Rhizome long, with underground branches. Stem procumbent, slender, up to 50(100) cm long, glabrous. Leaves reniform, 1.5–2.5 × 1–3.5 cm, somewhat fleshy, glabrous, very broadly obtuse or emarginate at apex; with a 2–7 cm long petiole. Flowers axillary, with 2–5 cm long peduncles. Bracteoles ovate, only partly overlapping, sometimes tending to invest the calyx. Corolla 3.5–5.2 cm long, infundibuliform, pink to pinkish violet. Fruit a spherical capsule, 1.5–2 cm in diameter, glabrous. Fl. V–VII, fr. VI–VIII. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on maritime sands. Takes part in psammophytic vegetation. Populations are strongly fragmented usually with a small number of individuals in each subpopulation. Plants grow in smaller or larger groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (Ahtopol, Tsarevo, Primorsko, Sozopol, Bourgas, Pomorie, Nesebur settlements, mouth of Kamchiya River, and extending northwards to Galata suburb of Varna town); at sea level.
General distribution. Coastal areas of S and W Europe, Mediterranean area, SW Asia, Japan-China Region, N and S America, Australia and New Zealand.
Threats. Habitat deterioration or loss due to the increased building works and rapid tourism development in the coastal area.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species under the national Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within protected territories (Kamchiyski Pyasatsi and Ustieto na R. Veleka Protected Sites) and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria
Conservation measures needed. Precise estimation of the population size and area of occupancy; investigation into the species’ biology and ecology; designation of new protected areas comprising the localities of the species; population monitoring; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria..
References. Kuzmanov 1982; Vasilev 1984.
Author: Vladimir Vladimirov
