Capsella bursa-pastoris
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. subsp.thracica (Velen.) Stoj. & Stef.
Capsella thracica Velen.1, 2
Brassicaceae – Cabbage family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous, sparsely and softly hairy annual. Stem up to 30(35) cm, branched. Basal leaves oblanceolate, dentate to pinnatifid, arranged in a rosette; cauline leaves sessile, sagittate at base, auriculate. Petals 2–3 mm long, white. Fruit a silicula, triangular-obcordate, scarcely attenuate at base, deeply incised at apex. Seeds brown. Fl. V–VI(VII), fr. VI–VII(VIII). Probably self-pollinated. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in grassy places by roads, cultivated fields, vineyards, sometimes also in cultivated ground, or in communities dominated by grasses. The plant has good reproductive potential.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – Devnya town), Thracian Lowland (near Karlovo town and in the region of Plovdiv, Krichim and Lyubimets towns).
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. The intensive agricultural activities in the localities of the subspecies cause deterioration of the ecological conditions and reduction of the population size. The infrastructure development in the coastal areas causes habitat changes and loss. These factors together with the very limited distribution of the taxon are the main threats.
Conservation measures taken. Protected subspecies according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some localities are situated in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Restriction of the human activities within the subspecies occurrences; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Vălev 1970; Tersijski 1984; Ančev 2001, 2007.
Authors: Mincho Anchev & Valentina Goranova
