Empetrum nigrum
Empetrum nigrum L.
Empetraceae – Crowberry family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iii); C2a(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Shrubs. Stems procumbent to ascending, rarely exceeding 50 cm in length. Leaves 3–7 × 1–2 mm, mostly elliptical to oblong-elliptical, 2–4 times as long as wide. Flowers normally hermaphrodite, with stamens usually persistent in fruit. Sepals and petals ca. 1.5 mm, oblong, greenish pink to reddish purple. Stamens up to 5 mm, long-exserted. Drupe 5 mm in diameter, black. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Stony and rocky places in the subalpine belt of Pirin and Rila Mts. Often forms communities.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rila and Pirin Mts; from 2200 up to 2700 m alt.
General distribution. N and S Europe, W Siberia, N America.
Threats. Development of ski tourism in the high mountain parts of Rila and Pirin Mts.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biological Diversity Act. All localities are within the borders of Rila and Pirin National Parks and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Detailed study of the chorology, biology and ecology of the species, numerical strength and area of its subpopulations; long-term monitoring of the species and its habitats; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
Note. Only Empetrum nigrum subsp. hermaphroditum (Hagerup) Boecher has been registered in Bulgaria.
References. Ančev 1982; Bondev 1984; Dimitrov et al. 2003; Ivanova et al. 2011.
Author: Dessislava Dimitrova
