Colchicum doerfleri
Colchicum doerfleri Halácsy
Liliaceae – Lily family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii)+2ab(iii)]. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial. Corm ca. 1.5–3 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, tunic coriaceous, dark brown, with short, wide neck. Leaves 2, plicate, lanceolate-linear to linear, 0.3–0.8(1.2) cm wide, ciliate below and on the margin. Flowers 1–5, pink or white; perianth-segments lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 0.3–0.5 cm wide. Capsule small, oblong, 1.2–1.5 cm long, ciliate. Fl. II–IV, fr. IV–V.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in grassy and stony places among shrubs, in the belt of xerothermic oak forests. Populations are with small number of individuals, strongly fragmented and isolated.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Valley of Struma River, Pirin Mts (southern); up to 1000 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, R Macedonia).
Threats. Destruction of the specific habitats through ploughing; restricted distribution and adaptation to specific conditions; low population density and reproductive potential.
Conservation measures taken. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species by the national Biodiversity Act; study of the biology and ecology of the species as well as ways to limit the negative impacts; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; inclusion of the species habitats in the Natura 2000 network.
References. Kuzmanov & Kozhuharov 1964.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
