Ilex aquifolium
Ilex aquifolium L.
Aquifoliacea – Holly family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN A1c; B1ab(iii)+2ab(ii)]. BDA. Tertiary relic.
Morphology and biology. Evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 m. Leaves 2–10 cm wide, ovate, obovate or elliptical, coriaceous, with strongly spinose, undulated margin, but sometimes flat and entire, dark green and very glossy above paler and duller beneath, glabrous. Petioles with wide, shallow grooves. Dioecious plants. Flowers axillary, 2–4, on the second-year shoots. Sepals 4, rarely 5; petals 4–5, glabrous, white. Male inflorescences with 3 flowers, female flowers single, rarely 2–3 in inflorescence. Fruit bright red, globose, ovate or elliptical; endocarps (drupes) elliptical or semilunar. Fl. IV–V, fr. VIII–X. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Wet, shady beech and mixed forests, as under storey. Population density is very low, consisting of solitary individuals. More individuals comprise the Maglenishki Rid locality – 4 subpopulations each with 15–20 individuals. The distribution area of the species is very restricted due to disturbance of the structure and state of the beech forests. Being a relic species it has small populations and low reproductive potential. Some of the populations are under the minimal threshold of numerical strength for a viable population.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Belasitsa Mt, Sredna Gora Mts (Svezhen village, Mrachenishka river, Turiya village), Rhodopi Mts (Western – Kremakliev Dol near Borino village; Central – Topolovo village, near Asenovgrad; Smolyan district; Eastern – Ivailovgrad, Maglenishki Rid locality); 400–1200 m alt.
General distribution. W and S Europe, part of C Europe, SW Asia and N Africa (Tunisia, Algeria).
Threats. Changes of habitats due to forest exploitation (timber production, collection of the species for decorative purposes); natural factors are the restricted distribution, small populations and low reproductive potential.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the numerical strength and area of the populations and the negative factors affecting the populations; elaboration of an action plan for conservation of the species; designation of the Maglenishki Rid locality in Eastern Rhodopi Mts as a protected area; monitoring of the populations and habitats.
References. Palamarev 1979; Nedyalkov 1984; Uzunov et al. 2002; Tashev 2010a.
Author: Chavdar Gussev
