Hypericum boissieri
Hypericum boissieri Petrovič
Clusiaceae – St. John’s Wort family
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU B2ab(ii)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial. Stems 25–50 cm, erect or ascending, rounded, 2-lined. Leaves sessile, triangular-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, dull green to violet beneath, with black superficial and marginal glands. Inflorescences corymbose, 10–25-flowered. Bracts linear to cuneate, glandular ciliate to fimbriate at margin. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, acute, glandular-ciliate or -fimbriate, with superficial black glands. Petals with superficial black dots and clear reddish orange veins. Stamens numerous; anthers yellow, each with a dark gland. Styles 3. Capsule oblong-ovate, with numerous rounded or elongated, yellow to brown vesicles on the surface. Fl. V–VII, fr. VII–IX. Insect and self-pollinated. Reproduction mainly by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in open, dry, grassy and stony places, on limestone. Forms populations with a small number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Forebalkan; up to 400 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula.
Threats. Live-stock breeding and agriculture; urbanization; low population density; limited distribution.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Habitat protection and management; estimation of the size and area of occupancy of the populations; research into species biology and ecology; designating new protected territories, deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
Notes. In some literature sources the species is treated as synonym of H. rochelii Griseb. & Shenk.
References. Jordanov & Kožuharov 1970; Stanev 1984.
Author: Valeri Georgiev
