Centaurea kernerana
Centaurea kernerana Janka
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant with branched rhizome. Stems numerous, ascending, with 2–3(4) branches above the middle, each with a terminal capitulum or simple. Leaves narrowly spatulate, entire or most often pinnatisect, obtuse, with 0.5–1 mm long mucro. Capitulum 20–25 mm wide. Involucre narrowly ovate to cylindrical, 6–14 mm wide. Appendages attenuate into a triangular brownish, arcuate-recurved acumen 5–7(9) mm long, with 4–10(12) pairs of brownish fimbriae. Florets pink, inner tubular, with yellow anthers, outer radiate. Achenes and pappus equal in length, 2.5–3.5(4) mm. Fl. VII–IX, fr. VIII–X. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. On rocks and rocky grasslands. Some of the populations in the Balkan Range are with many individuals and are in good state. The populations in Rila Mts are strongly fragmented and with less individuals. About 80 % of the population near Rai chalet is attacked by rust fungi (Uredinales). Due to the strict adaptation of the species to its specific habitat the populations are very much isolated from one another.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central), Rila Mts (Musala peak and above Kostenets); (700)1600–2900 m alt. Erroneously reported for Pirin Mts.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Low reproduction and migration potential of the species; specific habitat characteristics; strong infection with rust fungi.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. It is included in 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants as ‘rare.’ Most of the populations of the species are within the borders of Central Balkan (Kozya Stena and Dzhendema Strict Nature Reserve) and Rila National Parks, and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the populations state and if necessary facilitation of the seed formation in situ; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Ninova 1984; Walter & Gillet 1998; Bancheva 1999a, b; Velchev 2006.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
