Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata L.
Menyanthaceae – Bogbean family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii); C2a(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant with long, creeping rhizome. Leaves ternate, leaflets 2.5–7 cm long, elliptical. Flowering stems 12–20 cm long, leafless, with terminal racemes. Calyx lobes somewhat recurved. Corolla 10–15 mm in diameter, pink outside, pale pink or white inside, lobes on inner surface long ciliate. Capsule globose-ovate, seeds smooth, brown. Fl. IV–V, fr. VI−VII. Insect, rarely wind pollinated. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in swamps, mires and bogs. Forms its own communities, often being the dominant species.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (western – Petrohan pass; central – Panitsite locality near Kalofer), Sofia Region (Kazichensko swamp), Znepole Region (Chokliovo swamp), Vitosha Region, Pirin Mts, Rila Mts (Samokov and Dupnitsa hollows), Rhodopi Mts (western –Batashko swamp, central – Smolyanski and Chairski lakes), Thracian Lowland (near Dunavtsi village); from 450 up to 1600 m alt.
General distribution. Europe, Asia and North America.
Threats. Due to the specific ecological needs of the species its populations have been reduced and may even be extinct in Kazichensko, Chokliovo and Batashko swamps and near Dunavtsi village (Kazanlak region); collection of the species as medicinal plants despite its legal protection, and draining of swamps and ploughing of its localities additionally destroy its populations.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the national Biodiversity Act. Part of its populations are within the borders of Rila and Pirin National Parks, Smolyanski Ezera Nature Monument and Chairite Protected Site. Part of the localities are within sites of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the state of the localities, species reproductive biology, and the factors with impact on the area and number of individuals in the populations aimed at optimization of the conservation measures; conservation of the species in the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; ex situ cultivation of the species.
References. Kochev & Jordanov 1981; Kozhuharov & Petova 1982; Ganchev 1984; Dimitrov 1995; Hájek et al. 2005.
Author: Lyuba Evstatieva
