Galium velenovskyi
Galium velenovskyi Ančev
Rubiaceae – Bedstraw family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii)]. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous, laxly caespitose, rhizomatous perennial. Stems 10–30 cm tall, with numerous non-flowering shoots at base. Leaves in whorls, linear to acicular, with revolute margins, apiculate. Flowers in small, nearly umbellate groups, arranged in a narrowly paniculate inflorescence. Corolla small, white, 4-lobed; lobes narrowly appendiculate at apex. Fruit dry, of 2 brown, reniform mericarps. Fl. V–VI, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollinated. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Grows in limestone rocky places on shallow, often eroded soils in the xerothermic oak-forests belt. Forms small and fragmented populations. Takes part in communities of Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis, Paliurus spina-christi, Colutea arborescens, etc.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (eastern), Thracian Lowland (Svilengrad district); at 250–500 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Grazing and trampling by domestic animals, changes in the land use regimes and forest fires have negative impacts on the natural habitat conditions and cause reduction of the population size.
Conservation measures taken. The localities are situated in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. Two localities in eastern Rhodopi Mts are within Sredna Arda Protected Site.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of populations aimed at the optimization of their protection regime; research into the species reproductive biology and possibilities for ex situ cultivation; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Ančev 1989; Petrova & Velchev 2006.
Authors: Valentina Goranova & Mincho Anchev
