Leontodon tuberosus
Leontodon tuberosus L.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb with long, slender tubers. Stems 7–35 cm tall, conspicuously pubescent. Leaves 20–140 × 5–25 mm, oblanceolate to oblong, usually obtuse at apex, pinnatisect, covered with 2–3-fid stalked hairs, attenuated in a petiole. Capitula solitary. Involucral bracts subglabrous or with rigid hairs mainly on the median line. Outer ligules with a greenish stripe on the outer face. Achenes 3–7 mm, of two kinds: outer curved, with very short pappus (0.5 mm), inner straight, beaked and with a well developed pappus of plumose hairs. Fl. V, fr. V–VI. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in pastures and grassy places among shrubs and at oak forest margins. Forms fragmented populations. Subpopulations usually large, with hundreds to thousands of individuals growing in groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (southern – between Sinemorets and Rezovo); up to 50 m alt.
General distribution. S Europe, NW Africa, Cyprus, W Syria.
Threats. Mainly habitat loss and deterioration due to rapid tourist development in the coastal area (enlargement of settlements, construction works, domestic pollution, trampling, camping, etc.).
Conservation measures taken. The localities are included in a sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Studies on the species’ biology and ecology and the impact of particular threats; monitoring of selected subpopulations; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Finch & Sell 1976; Vladimirov & Dimitrova 2006.
Authors: Vladimir Vladimirov & Dessislava Dimitrova
