Centaurea jankae
Centaurea jankae D. Brandza
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)]. IUCN(R), HD(IIb), BC, BDA. Balkan endemic. Tertiary relict.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial. Flowering stems 30–100 cm, often branched in the upper half. Basal leaves irregularly pinnatisect, segments linear, patent, arachnoid-pubescent to subglabrous. Capitula solitary, long-pedunculate, ovoid to subglobose. Involucral bracts veined, the middle ovate, the upper oblong, dark green with a deep purple tint in the upper part. Appendages scarious-membranous, shining, those of the middle bracts semilunate, lacerate to entire. Florets purple. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in dry grasslands on limestone. Two populations are known; area of occupancy is less than 1 km2. The population on Taushan Tepe hill numbers about 500–550 individuals, that one on Venchanski Dyuz – about 700–750. In some years the population is represented with a low percentage of flowering individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. NE Bulgaria (Taushan Tepe near Nevsha village and Venchanski Dyuz near Venchan village); up to 300 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Romania (Dobrudzha).
Threats. Limited distribution; attempts for afforestation of the hills; natural spread of shrubs on Taushan Tepe hill due to lack of grazing is a potential threat.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the national Biodiversity Act. The localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the populations; inventory of the adjacent territories for new localities; declaring Taushan Tepe hill a protected territory.
References. Dostál 1976; Sârbu et al. 2006; Petrova 2007.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
