Gypsophila trichotoma
Gypsophila trichotoma Wend.
Caryophyllaceae– Pink family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant. Stems ascending at base, branched, 50–100 cm long, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves opposite, ovoid, 3–7 × 1–3.5 cm, glandular-pubescent, with 3–5 veins, ciliate. Inflorescences lax branched panicles with firm branches. Flowers small, petals 5.5–6 mm long, white, pale pink, sometimes red. Fruit a rounded capsule, 3–4 mm. Fl. VII–IX, fr. VIII–XI. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Coastal damp clay and sandy, often salty soils, sometimes coastal rocks (Kaliakra). Grows also in man-made habitats, e.g. on the gravel between railroad tracks at some railway stations. Subpopulations are small; there are data for 11–13 localities, the area of occurrence is less than 1000 km2; the area of occupancy less than 10 km2. The subpopulations in the area of Varnensko lake and south of Zelenka Cape are more numerous (more than 500 individuals). The subpopulations at Atanasovsko lake and Poda locality near Burgas number about 100 plants.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (reliably recorded along the coast southwards to Poda locality near Burgas), Northeast Bulgaria (Kardam, Vyatovo, Devnya, Sindel railway stations); up to 100 m alt.
General distribution. SE Europe, Caucasus, SW and C Asia, Siberia.
Threats. Infrastructural development, hydrological changes, tourism development, picking of flowers for bunches (region of Varna town).
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the Biodiversity Act. Some of the localities are in protected areas (Kaliakra Strict Nature Reserve, Atanasovsko Ezero Strict Nature Reserve, Pomoriiski Solnitsi and Poda Protected Sites) and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Strict reinforcement of the limitations legally envisaged in the protected areas; monitoring of the populations, especially in the localities with high pressures of tourist development; control over flower markets and auctions to prevent collecting from wild populations; raising awareness of flower traders, sellers and beach concessions owners about the conservation value of the species.
References. Velenovský 1898; Jordanov 1936; Vălev1966; Meshinev et al. 1994; Petrova & Apostolova 1995; Filipova-Marinova et al. 2000, 2002; Petrova et al. 2002; Vladimirov & Petrova 2010.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
