Centaurea mannagettae
Centaurea mannagettae Podp.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, rhizomatous herbaceous plant. Stems 15–40 cm, lanate at base. Leaves subglabrous or arachnoid-hairy; basal leaves 2-pinnate, with narrowly linear, up to 2 mm wide lobes; cauline leaves subentire. Involucre c. 15–17 mm in diameter. Involucral bracts broadly lanceolate. Appendages decurrent, brownish to black, with 7–9(11) pairs of fimbriae. Florets yellow, outer slightly longer than the inner. Achenes ca. 4 mm long; pappus equal or slightly longer than the achene. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry, stony places on limestone. Populations are in good condition but are strongly fragmented and on restricted area (ca. 500–1000 m2) and consist most often of several tens of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Slavyanka Mt, Pirin Mts (Yavorov, Peeshtite Skali, and Byalata Voda chalets, slopes above Bansko), Rila Mts, Thracian Lowland (Besaparski hills), Toundzha Hilly Country (Topolovgrad); 300–1400 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria and R Macedonia).
Threats. Decrease of population area due to use of land for viniculture in Besapara hills; obtaining of inert materials; erosion; low reproductive and migration potential of the species; specific characteristics of the species habitat; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act; included in 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants as “rare”. Some populations are within the borders of Pirin National Park and Ognyanovo – Sinitevski Rid Protected Site. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the population state; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Dostál 1976; Ninova 1984; Dimitrov 1998; Walter & Gillet, 1998; Peev 2006.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
