Centaurea inermis
Centaurea inermis Velen.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Biennial herbaceous plant. Stems up to 15–30 cm, branched. Leaves grey green, lower ones 1–2-pinnate, with ca. 0.5–1(2) mm wide, linear-lanceolate. Capitula narrowly ovate, single, on top of the branches. Involucre 6–11 mm long, 4–6 mm wide. Appendages small, entire or with 2–3 underdeveloped fimbriae. Florets pink. Achenes ca. 3 mm long; pappus very short. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII.
Habitats and populations. On dry and stony places in the belts of xerothermic oak forests. Populations are with low numerical strength and density.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (eastern – Trite Bratya locality, Aitos region); Rhodopi Mts (eastern – Ivailovgrad region), Thracian Lowland (between Haskovo and Harmanli – along Oludere river, Osriya Kamak locality; Malko Gradishte village) and Toundzha Hilly Country (Elhovo region, between Dobrich and Popovo villages; Yambolski Bakadzhik locality); up to 500 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria. Erroneously reported for Turkey.
Threats. Ploughing of new areas; grazing and trampling by cattle; low migration potential of the species; destruction of the specific habitat; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within Trite Bratya Protected Site and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the populations state; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; proclamation of a protected area.
References. Wagenitz 1975; Dostál 1976; Ninova 1984.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
