Knautia byzantina
Knautia byzantina Fritsch
Dipsacaceae – Teasel family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii,iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Annual. Stem up to 60 cm high, erect, branched in its upper half, with patent hairs. Leaves opposite, linear, acute, entire to sharply triangular-dentate, pubescent. Capitula 1.5–3 cm in diameter, with 12–15 linear involucral bracts. Florets bluish violet, outer slightly bigger than the inner. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on stony soil in dry herbaceous and shrubby places, wood margins, field boundary strips and abandoned arable land. Populations are fragmented with low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Tundzha Hilly Country (near Golyam Dervent village, Elhovo district), Strandzha Mts (near Strandzha village, Bolyarovo district; Moryani locality, NW of Brashlyan village, Malko Tarnovo district); 100–500 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (southeasternmost parts of Bulgaria and European Turkey) and NW Asia Minor.
Threats. Grazing and trampling by domestic animals close to urban places; habitat fragmentation and loss as a result from ploughing and tourism development; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the national Biodiversity Act. Part of the species populations are within the borders of Strandzha Nature Park. The localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Proclamation of Dervent Hills as protected area; detailed study of the area and number of individuals of the populations, biology and ecology of the species, existing and potential threats; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Jordanoff 1939b; Matthews 1972; Roussakova 1984.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
