Cirsium stojanovii
Cirsium stojanovii Kuzmanov
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Annual to biennial herbaceous plant. Stem simple, 20–60 cm, arachnoid-hairy. Leaves lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, pinnatifid, sessile, round-auriculate, above and on the edge arachnoid-hairy, with numerous, 0.5–1 mm long, rigid, yellow spines. Capitula single, axillary, sessile. Axillary bracts exceeding the capitula. Involucre 11–13 mm long, 7–8 mm wide, narrowly ovate, sparingly arachnoid-hairy. Outer and middle involucral bracts elliptical-linear, with yellow, rigid, elongated, 2–4 mm long apex. Florets purple. Achenes 3–3.5 mm long. Pappus 8–10 mm long. Fl. VII–IX, fr. VIII–X. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry, grassy places. Populations are strongly fragmented, with small number of individuals and low density.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Southern – Sveti Vlas town), Rhodopi Mts (eastern – Krumovgrad and Momchilgrad); up to 300 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Destruction of the specific rare habitat to which the species is adapted through building constructions and infrastructure (Sveti Vlas town), ploughing (Krumovgrad and Momchilgrad); grazing; low migration capacity; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. The localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the biology and ecology of the species; monitoring of the population state; elaboration of an action plan; proclamation of a protected area; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Kuzmanov 1984.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
