Hieracium kittaniae
Hieracium kittaniae Vladimir.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and Biology. Perennial herb. Stems 15–50 cm tall, slender, purple in the base, subglabrous, with 0–2 leaves. Rosette leaves spathulate to ovate, subentire (rarely finely denticulate), glaucous, with purplish blotches, glabrous, only on the margin and mid-vein beneath with simple eglandular and minute glandular hairs, petiolate. Synflorescence with 1–8 flower heads. Involucre cylindrical, 7.5–10 mm long. Involucral bracts covered with stellate, glandular and occasionally also simple eglandular hairs. Achenes dark brown to blackish. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII. Sexual species. Reproduces by seeds and vegetative means (not effective).
Habitats and populations. Open and semi-shady rocks and rocky places exclusively on limestone. Usually grows in places with high air humidity. Represented by a single fragmented population, comprising 3–4 subpopulations in a few adjacent gorges south of Devin town.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (central – Buynovo and Trigrad gorges, Tenes-Dere, rock cliffs near Teshel village); at 800–1200 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. The rapidly developing tourism in the region and intensive car traffic cause trampling of individuals and coverage with large amount of dust, disturbing the normal physiological processes of the plants.
Conservation measures taken. The localities are included in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria; part of the locality lies within Trigradsko Zdrelo Protected Site.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species under the national Biodiversity Act. Comprehensive studies on the species’ biology and ecology and the impact of the particular threats; population monitoring and deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Vladimirov 2003.
Author: Vladimir Vladimirov
