Galium rhodopeum
Galium rhodopeum Velen.
Rubiaceae – Bedstraw family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA, BC. Balkan endemic. Tertiary relic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous laxly caespitose perennial with a long rhizome. Stems 7–35 cm, with numerous non-flowering shoots at base. Leaves in whorls of 6, narrowly linear, gradually narrowed into a long hyaline apiculum. Flowers small, pale yellowish, arranged in a narrow pyramidal inflorescence. Fruit dry, of 2 reniform mericarps. Fl. V–VI, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollinated. Reproduces by vegetative means (rhizomatous shoots) and seeds, dispersed by barochory and less often by mirmecochory.
Habitats and populations. Grows on calcareous dry, stony slopes, usually with a southern exposure, on eroded and poorly developed soils, in oak and beech forest belts. Forms part of the herbaceous layer of the communities of Quercus pubescens and Carpinus orientalis, and in hasmophytic communities together with Morina persica, Polygala rhodopaea, Alyssum montanum, etc. Populations are usually with a good numerical strength.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (western – above Peshtera town, central – near Asenovgrad town, between Bachkovo and Narechen villages, Byala Cherkva), Thracian Lowland (Besapara hills); between 300 and 1450 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, N Greece, R Macedonia, Serbia).
Threats. Quarry exploitation and road construction works cause decrease in the population areas of occupancy and, together with grazing and trampling by domestic animals, have negative impacts on population sizes and natural reproduction.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species with priority habitats for conservation according to the national Biodiversity Act and Bern Convention. The localities are situated in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. Some localities are included in Ognyanovo-Sinitevski Rid Protected Site (Besaparski hills) and Anatema Protected Site (near Asenovgrad town).
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of populations aimed at the optimization of their protection regime; restriction of the human activities within and near the species localities outside protected territories.
References. Velenovský 1891; Anchev 1971; Ančev 1984, 1992b, 2006; Petrova & Vladimirov 2010.
Authors: Mincho Anchev & Valentina Goranova
