Centaurea parilica
Centaurea parilica Stoj. & Stef.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, with woody, branched rhizome. Stems many, 5–35(40) cm, erect or ascending, simple, rarely with up to 3 branches. Leaves regularly distributed along the stem, narrowly linear, entire, sometimes dentate, grey-green, lanate; with sessile glands below. Capitula single, covered at base by the upper cauline leaves. Involucre 8–12 mm wide. Outer involucral bracts triangular, gradually becoming a filiform, recurved appendage. Appendage with 9–13 pairs of yellowish to brown fimbriae along the margin. Florets pink, the inner tubular, with yellowish anthers, the outer radiate. Achenes 3.5–4.5 mm long. Pappus ca. 2 mm long. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VIII–X. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows on stony meadows and slopes, including in rock crevices close to the timberline and in the subalpine belt, calcicole. The populations of the species in Pirin Mts and in Stargach massif consist of single individuals arranged in a mosaic. The populations from Slyanka Mt, the classical locality of the species, are with good and relatively constant numerical strength.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Slavyanka Mt, Pirin Mts (southern – Sveta Elena, Sveshtnik, Lyaskovski and Orelyak peaks); (1000)1500–2100 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria and Greece).
Threats. Erosion; low reproductive potential of the species; specific habitat characteristics.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Part of the population is within the borders of Alibotush and Orelyak Strict Nature Reserves. The localities are within a site 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; facilitation of the seed production of the populations in South Pirin and Stargach.
References. Ninova 1984; Meshinev 2006; Bancheva 1999a, b.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
