Cynoglossum germanicum
Cynoglossum germanicum Jacq.
Boraginaceae – Borage family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii); C2a(ii); E]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous biennial. Stem 30–80 cm, erect, with simple hairs. Basal and lower cauline leaves 3–10 cm long, 2–3.5 cm wide, elliptical, acute, entire, with simple hairs above, sparingly pubescent below, ciliate at margin; petioles narrowly winged, hairy. Cauline leaves 5–15 cm long, 3–4.5 cm wide, becoming smaller above, sessile. Cymes with lateral branches. Calyx 5–7 mm long, lobes elliptical, two of them bigger, appressed ciliate at margin. Corolla blue to pink violet, with pink veins. Corolla disc 12–15 mm in diameter, campanulate, lobes rounded, glabrous, with small, white, tuberculate scales at the throat. Nutlets 7–10 mm in diameter, external face convex, densely glochidate. Fl. V–VII, fr. VI–VIII. Insect pollination.
Habitats and populations. Grows in mixed beech-horn beam forests and shady places on limestone. The area of the population is ca. 0.5 ha, with ca. 1000 individuals in total. Plants with good reproductive potential.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Central – registered by I. Neichev in 1899 Malusha locality, Gabrovo region.); about 1000 m alt. It was recorded again on 14.07.2006 by Yulian Marinov on the northern slopes of Shipchenska Mt. of the Balkan Range at 980 m alt., close to the former locality.
General distribution. W, C and partly E Europe, SW Asia, Caucasus. Adventitious in N America.
Threats. Wood cutting, fires, grazing and tramping.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Its locality is within the borders of Balgarka Nature Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Proclamation of the species locality as protected site; study of the ecology and biology of the species; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Kovanda, 1972; Evstatieva, 1984a; Peev, 1989; Marinov, 2009b.
Author: Elena Genova
