Linum uninerve
Linum uninerve (Rochel) Borbás
Linaceae – Flax family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb, with numerous densely foliate non-flowering rosettes. Flowering stems numerous, 10–30 cm high, arcuate at the base, usually decumbent. Basal leaves in rosettes, spathulate, 5–30 mm long, 2–10 mm wide; cauline leaves alternate, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1-veined, with a pair of brown stipular glands at base. Flowers actinomorphic, heterostylous, in 2–10-flowered lax cymes. Sepals 5–9 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, longer than capsule. Petals 16–19 mm long, 6–7 mm wide, 2–3 times longer than sepals, obovate, yellow. Fruit 5–6 mm long, ovate capsule with a short beak. Seeds bright brown, with dull surface. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. On grasses and rocky calcareous places, open meadows in oak or coniferous forests in the mountains. Forms mosaic populations, rarely with good density, often individuals grow solitary or in small groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Region (central– Kuru Dere locality), Rhodopi Mts (Central – Dobrostan massive); between 1000–1600 m alt.
General distribution. E (C and S Romania) and SE (Balkan Peninsula) Europe.
Threats. Small populations with limited area of occupancy; low reproductive capacity; changes of the forest management.
Conservation measures taken. The localities are in the Chervenata Stena Strict Nature Reserve and Central Balkan National Park. Some occurrences are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Collection and deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Ockendon & Walters 1968; Petrova 1979, 1984.
Author: Ana Petrova
