Limonium gmelini
Limonium gmelini (Willd.) Kuntze
Plumbaginaceae – Leadwort family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial. Flowering stems 30–50 cm. Leaves basal, 5–10 cm long, spathulate, entire, with a hyaline margin, narrowed at base into a long, winged petiole. Inflorescence terminal, branched, obovate in outline; spikelets 1–3-flowered. Calyx tubular-infundibuliform, membranous, 10-lobed. Corolla pale violet. Fruit a 1-seeded capsule. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollinated. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in stony and rocky, usually moist, places on saline, clay soils. Populations are fragmented, with relatively good numerical strength.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (in the region of Beloslav, Obzor, Nesebar, Pomorie, Burgas, Sozopol and Rezovo settlements), Toundzha Hilly Country (Kermen village, Sliven district; region of the former Straldzha marshland); up to 150 m alt.
General distribution. C and SE Europe, the Caucasus, C Asia, E Siberia.
Threats. Infrastructure development in the coastal areas, resorts enlargement, activation of land-sliding cause habitat changes and pose threats for the species. Collection of plants for ornamental purposes causes reduction of population size.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some occurrences in the Black Sea coast floristic region are in protected territories (Kaliakra and Ropotamo Strict Nature Reserves, Yatata, Silistar and Pomoriysko Ezero Protected Sites) and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the habitat and species occurrences outside protected territories through restriction and regulation of the building works within the respective localities; research for elaboration of technologies for ex situ cultivation of the species for ornamental purposes.
References. Ančev 1982, 1984.
Authors: Valentina Goranova & Mincho Anchev
