Moehringia grisebachii
Moehringia grisebachii Janka
Caryophyllaceae – Pink family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii)]. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant. Stems many, procumbent, or subascending, forming soft tufts. Leaves opposite, linear to filiform, 0.5–1 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal, with 2–6 flowers on ca.1 cm long pedicels. Petals 5, white, even or slightly longer than sepals. Capsule ovate, dehiscent in 6 linear parts. Fl. IV–VI, fr. VI–VII. Reproduction by vegetative means and seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in crevices both of calcareous and silicate rocks. Populations are small and fragmented.
Distribution in Bulgaria. NE Bulgaria (above Madara village, Shumen region), Balkan Range (eastern – Sinite Kamani locality above Sliven), Sredna Gora Mts (Western – NW of Pesnopoi village; Eastern – between Rozovets village and Bratan summit), Thracian Lowland (northwards from Matochina village, Svilengrad district), Tundzha Hilly Country (Sakar Mt); 0–900 m alt. The species was reported in literature from the Northern Black Sea Coast but not confirmed later.
General distribution. Eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula (E Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudzha and Turkey-in-Europe).
Threats. Adaptation to a specific habitat; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. Some localities of the species are within the borders of Sinite Kamani Nature Park, Madarski Skalni Ventsi Protected Site and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species by the Biodiversity Act; proclamation of Provadia Plateau as protected area; detailed study of the area and number of individuals per population, biology and ecology of the species and threats; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Kuzmanov & Kozhuharov 1966; Koeva 1984; Stanev & Delipavlov 2007.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
