Cirsium alatum
Cirsium alatum (S.G. Gmelin) Bobrov
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial; roots with fusiform tubers. Stems 30–100 cm, branched, wings undulate with hard spines on the rib. Leaves coriaceous, decurrent, narrowly lanceolate to elliptical, largely dentate to pinnatisect, glabrous; lobes broadly triangular, dentate with terminal, hard, 4–9 mm long spines. Capitula 1–5, shortly pedunculate or sessile. Involucre 12–17 mm long, 9–13 mm wide. Involucral bracts erect, with deflexed 1–2.5 mm long spine; outer acute, middle obtuse, with narrowly lanceolate, scarious appendage. Florets purple. Achenes 3–3.5 mm long. Pappus 10–13 mm long. Fl. VII–IX, fr. VIII–X. Insect pollination.
Habitats and populations. On saline sands and soils by saline lakes and swamps. Populations are with small number of individuals, strongly fragmented.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (near Devnya, Varna, Beloslav village, Pomorie); up to 200 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey (Asian part), Israel, Jordan.
Threats. Adaptation to specific habitat conditions; habitat degradation; salt collection; urbanization; decrease of water quantity in Beloslavsko lake; construction of tourist complexes; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. None.
Conservation measures needed. Elaboration of an action plan for the species; monitoring of the population state; study of reproductive biology and facilitation of seed formation in situ; proclamation of a protected area; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Werner 1976; Ganchev 1984; Greuter 2008.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
