Colchicum bivonae
Colchicum bivonae Guss.
Liliaceae – Lily family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial. Corm 2.5–5 cm long, 2.5–4 cm wide, ovate, tunic dark brown, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, with a long neck. Leaves (4)5–9, linear-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, ca. 25 cm long, 0.8–1.3 cm wide, developing after anthesis. Flowers 1–6, pale to deep pinkish purple, often with chess pattern; perianth segments oblong to broadly elliptical (4)5.5–6.5 cm long, 0.8–2 cm wide. Capsule oblong, ca. 4 cm long. Fl. IX–X, fr. III–IV.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry, grassy and stony places in scrub; in the belt of xerothermic oak forests. Populations consist of single individuals and have low reproductive and migration potential.
Distribution in Bulgaria. West Frontier Mts (Malashevska Mt), Valley of Struma River (southern – to the south of Kresna Pass), Pirin (southern – lowest parts); up to 700 m alt. The species is a Mediterranean geoelement.
General distribution. Central part of the Mediterranean area and the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula.
Threats. Destruction of the specific habitats; restricted distribution and adaptation to specific habitats subject to intensive anthropogenic impacts; low population density and low reproductive potential.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Some 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 and the ways to limit the effect the negative factors; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Kuzmanov & Kozhuharov 1964; Kozhuharov 1984; Velčev & Vassilev 2002.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
