Hippophae rhamnoides
Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. caucasica Rousi
Elaeagnaceae – Sea buckthorn family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(ii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iv,v); C2a(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Shrub or small tree, up to 11 m high. Bark dark brown or green brown. Leaves 1–8 cm long, 2–10 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, green above, silver white beneath. Dioecious plant. Male flowers in short spikes, yellow. Female flowers in pairs, greenish. Fruit juicy, orange to orange-red. Fl. III–V, fr. IX. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. The species is of restricted distribution. Species localities are related to stabilized seaside sands. Subpopulations are with low number of individuals. One of the best localities of the species is on Galata cape, near Varna; the locality comprises several tens of male and female individuals; to the south of Galata Cape, above the beach of the recreation complex of the cement factory, 5–6 individuals; the periphery of Galata living quarter, to the right of the old road between Galata and Varna, 7–8 male and female individuals; between Chernomorets chalets and Pasha Dere locality, on the steep slope facing the sea, several tens of individuals, which have been withering since 1983. Due to the low seed production the populations are not stable. Vegetative reproduction does not lead to increase of the population due to the instability of the soil substrate. Different incidents can lead to drastic decrease of the number of individuals per population.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – Varna region); up to 50 m alt.
General distribution. Europe, SW and C Asia.
Threats. Afforestation, changes in land use, urbanization, global warming, drought, low reproductive potential, fires.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. The localities are within a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Elaboration of an action plan for conservation of the natural populations.
References. Markova 1979; Vitkova et al. 1993; Petrova et al. 2008.
Author: Tenyo Meshinev & Antoaneta S. Petrova
