Cistus salvifolius
Cistus salvifolius L.
Cistaceae – Rock-rose family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Woody dwarf perennial or shrub. Stems up to 100 cm high, erect or procumbent, with stellate hairs. Leaves 10–45 × 5–30 mm, ovate to obovate, green above, rugose, greyish green beneath, with stellate hairs on both sides. Flowers single or rarely in groups of 2–4. Sepals 5, outer rounded, inner broadly ovate. Petals 18–25 mm long, white, with lemon yellow spot at the base. Fruit capsule. Propagation by seeds or vegetatively. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII.
Habitats and populations. Dry, sunny, grassy and stony places. Population is with low number of individuals but reproductive ability of the species is good.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (southern – Silistar), Mt Strandzha (the villages of Brodilovo, Bulgari, Kosti, Gramatikovo, Ouzounboudzhak Reserve), from the sea level up to 300 m.
General distribution. SE Europe, Balkan Peninsula, Asia, Africa.
Threats. Limited distribution, construction activities along the seaside, destruction and littering of the habitats, stock tamping and grazing, afforestation.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the national Biodiversity Act. Some of the known localities are within protected areas (Silistar Protected Site, Strandzha Natural Park, Ouzounboudzhak Strict Nature Reserve) and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Sustainable management and conservation of the habitat and of the known locations. Monitoring of the status of the populations.
References. Kozhuharov 1984; Gussev et al. 2004.
Authors: Boris Assyov, Cvetomir M. Denchev
