Centaurea achtarovii
Centaurea achtarovii Urum.
Centaurea triumfettii subsp. achtarovii (Urum.) Kožuharov & N. Andreev4, Cyanus achtarovii (Urum.) Holub
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, with short rhizome. Stem 2–12(20) cm, simple, erect, tomentose. Leaves in a basal rosette, broadly elliptical-spathulate, entire, rarely pinnatifid; densely white to grey, pubescent on both sides. Capitula single, 3–4 cm wide. Involucre 10–15 mm wide. Involucral bracts triangular, with appendages reaching almost to the base, with black rib and numerous, argentous fimbriae. Inner florets tubular, bluish violet with purple anthers; peripheral florets radiate, blue to violet. Achenes 4–5 mm long. Pappus up to 0.5 mm long. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, mirmecochoric.
Habitats and populations. In stony meadows near timberline and in subalpine dwarf pine and juniper scrub, on limestone. Populations are fragmented with tens of individuals. Only the population below Orelyak peak (Pirin Mts) consists of hundreds of individuals. Due to restriction to a very specific habitat the localities are strongly isolated from one another.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts; (1700)2200–2600 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria. Erroneously reported for Romania as C. achtarovii subsp. sooiana Borhidi and for R Macedonia instead of C. triumfettii.
Threats. Construction of cable car stations and ski facilities; erosion; restriction to specific habitat; low reproductive and migration potential; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. A considerable part of the localities are within the borders of Pirin National Park (Bayuvi Dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa and Orelyak Strict Nature Reserves). All localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the population state; if necessary facilitation of seed production in situ; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Ninova 1984; Bancheva 1999a, b; Meshinev 2006; Boršić et al. (in press).
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
