Matthiola odoratissima
Matthiola odoratissima (M. Bieb.) R. Br.
Brassicaceae – Cabbage family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant or semi-shrub. Stems 15–50 cm, branched, grey white tomentose. Leaves 2–8 cm long, oblong, lyrate or pinnatissect, densely grew-white tomentose on both sides. Inflorescences 10–18 cm long, 20–30-flowered. Flowers with 4 densely pubescent sepals and 4 yellowish, yellow reddish or yellow brown petals. Fruit a compressed siliqua, 8–15 cm long. Fl. IV–V, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in a specific habitat: open grasslands on coastal clayed marls and slopes with stone outcrops. The species has low competitiveness and grows on very nutrient-poor soils, in dry sunny microhabitats, where other species could not grow. The occurrence is local, occupied area is less than 10 km2, the subpopulations cover from a few square meters to 0.1(1) ha.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – between Balchik town and Zelenka locality near Kaliakra cape); up to 50 m alt.
General distribution. SE Europe (Bulgaria, Ukraine), Caucasus and Iran.
Threats. Limited distribution; tourist and infrastructural activities. The populations rapidly declined due to intensive afforestation in the localities during the 1960–70s. The afforestation was done using invasive species: Robinia pseudoacacia, Amorpha fruticosa and Elaeagnus angustifolia, which easily escape and spread outside the plantations.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. A proposal for designation of the locality near Balchik town as a protected area has been submitted. An Action plan for conservation of the species is in a process of elaboration.
Conservation measures needed. Studies on the population status, biology and ecology of the species; elaboration of an action plan with special measures for habitat and localities conservation; declaration of protected areas in places with representative populations, e.g. Charakman hill; preservation of seeds in the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Jordanov 1929; Ball 1966; Asenov 1970; Petrova, Venkova & Gerasimova 2002.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
