Cytinus clusii
Cytinus clusii (Nyman) Gand.
Rafflesiaceae – Rafflesia family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); C2a(i); D]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant without chlorophyll, parasite on the roots of Cistus incanus. Stem simple, up to 12 cm high, with red, scale-like leaves. Bracteoles bright red. Inflorescence dense spike. Flowers unisexual; lower female, upper male. Perianth white or pale pink, petaloid whorl, tubular-campanulate, 4-merous, 12–15 mm long, exceeding the bracteoles. Stamens 8, united into a column. Ovary inferior, style single. Fruit a white berry, with numerous seeds. Fl. V, fr. VI. Seed dispersal myrmecochorous.
Habitats and populations. Parasite on the roots of Cistus incanus. Plants appear individual. Two localities are currently known in Strandzha Mts, both with low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Strandzha Mts (nearby “Pirena” protected area and between Brodilovo and Kosti villages).
General distribution. Mediterranean area and Portugal.
Threats. Habitat changes due to stock breeding, afforestation, tourism etc.
Conservation measures taken. Protected by the national Biodiversity Act. The population is within Strandzha Nature Park and in a protected area of the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Further assessment of the size and the extent of the population. Study of the biology and ecology of the species. Preservation of the habitats of the species. Expansion of the “Pirena” protected site is needed to include the locality of Cytinus clusii, situated on the opposite side of the road bordering the protected area.
References. Webb & Akeroyd 1993; Dimitrov et al. 1997; Petrova 2004a.
Authors: Cvetomir M. Denchev, Boris Assyov
