Laserpitium archangelica
Laserpitium archangelica Wulfen
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); C2(ii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial with long branching rhizome. Stem 80–200 cm, densely hairy at the nodes and with numerous scattered, long, soft hairs. Lower leaves 3- to 4-ternate; petioles of upper cauline leaves very strongly inflated, densely hairy. Inflorescence with (2)3–4(5) compound umbels, rays 23–46. Umbels with 25–57 flowers, on long pedicels. Petals white or pink, incised at apex, with a basal claw. Fruits 8–10 mm long, 5–8 mm wide; dorsal wings slightly prominent, glabrous; lateral wings 1.5–3 mm wide. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VIII.
Habitats and populations. Damp to wet meadows and mires in mountain forests. At present the population is localized in Dolna Plashka Polyana, Krushe and Kalugeritsa localities, Razlog region. Recently, the species has been discovered in Rakovo Dere locality near Bansko (M. Hajek, pers. comm.). The number of individuals vary between 60 and 250 in different years. The population area is about 3550 m2.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts; from 1160 up to 1320 m alt.
General distribution. Mountains in the eastern part of C Europe and northern parts of Balkan Peninsula.
Threats. Hydro-ameliorating activities, mowing before ripening of the fruits, increase of the canopy density, infrastructure work, low reproductive potential, changes in the composition of the plant community, parasites and plant diseases.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Part of the population is within Kalugeritsa Protected Site and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. An action plan for the species was elaborated in 2005 by a team from the Institute of Botany of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Conservation measures needed. Proclamation of a protected site Dolna Plashka Polyana as recommended in the action plan; supporting measures for facilitation of the natural reproduction (opening of the grass-cover, forest clearing), monitoring of the population state and collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Assenov1982; Andreev 1984.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
