Echinophora sibthorpiana
Echinophora sibthorpiana Guss.
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN A4cd; B2ab(ii); C2a; D].
Morphology and biology. Perennial. Root tapering, woody. Stem 20–50 cm high, branched from the base. Leaves 2–3-pinnatifid, upper entire. Flowers in terminal, compound umbels. Fruit dry, with short ribs and solitary vittae. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. IX–X. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, dispersed by animals (zoochoric).
Habitats and populations. Occurs in stony, sunny places with southern exposure, on shallow luvisols. Participates in communities of Paliurus spina-christi, Jasminum fruticans, Carpinus orientalis, and in herbaceous communities on rocky terrains together with Festuca valesiaca, Centaurea salonitana, Satureja coerulea, Achillea clypeolata, Dictamnus albus, Teucrium polium, Stipa capillata, Crupina vulgaris, etc.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Valley of Struma River (Blagoevgrad, Sandanski, Petrich regions), Thracian Lowland (Svilengrad region – Kapitan Andreevo, Raikova Mogila villages); 100–250 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, R Macedonia, Greece), Crete, Romania, Crimea, Turkey, Caucasus, C and SW Asia.
Threats. Agriculture and stock breeding, which have negative impact on the populations and the numbers of individuals.
Conservation measures taken. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Proclamation of the known localities of the species as protected areas in order to limit the negative impact on the populations.
References. Jordanov 1939; Stojanov et al. 1967; Asenov 1984.
Author: Dimitar Dimitrov
