Limonium meyeri
Limonium meyeri (Boiss.) Kuntze
Plumbaginaceae − Leadwort family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab (ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial. Flowering stems 30−60 cm. Leaves basal, 8−16 cm long, ovate to broadly obovate, entire, with a long, narrowly winged petiole. Inflorescence laxly paniculate; spikelets 1−3-flowered, grouped in spikes. Calyx membranous, white. Corolla pale violet, after anthesis hidden in the calyx. Fruit a 1-seeded capsule. Fl. VI−VII, fr. VII−VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in stony and rocky places on saline, clay soil. Populations are fragmented, small, consisting of scattered solitary individuals and small groups of plants.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – Kaliakra cape, Yailata locality, Kamen Bryag village); up to 150 m alt. Bulgarian localities represent the westernmost border of the species distribution area.
General distribution. SE Europe extending to Caspian Sea eastwards, the Caucasus, C Asia.
Threats. The intensive resort infrastructure development and other anthropogenic factors in the localities cause habitat changes and influence population reproductive potential. Direct threat is collecting plants for ornamental purposes. Erosion processes and land slides contribute to the decrease of the population area in the country.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some localities are situated in Kaliakra Strict Nature Reserve and Yailata Protected Site. All occurrences of the species are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Population monitoring aimed at the optimization of the populations protection regime; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; elaboration of an Action plan for conservation of the species; designation a protected territory in the locality near Kamen Bryag village.
References. Pignatti 1972; Ančev 1982, 1984; Petrova et al. 2002.
Authors: Valentina Goranova & Mincho Anchev
