Myricaria germanica
Myricaria germanica (L.) Desv.
Tamaricaceae – Tamarisk family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR A1ac; B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(ii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Shrub, 0.6–2.5 m high. Twigs erect, brown reddish. Leaves 2–5, linear-lanceolate, greyish green, obtuse, sessile, imbricate. Bracts longer than flowers. Calyx and corolla 5-lobed, pink to white, in terminal spikes, 4–12 cm long. Anthers 10, ovary with sessile stigmas. Capsule pyramidal. Seeds small, with a pappus of hairs. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Shrubs along rivers. The species is represented only by a single normally developed individual that forms seeds. There are no data about other localities. As a result of natural successions its habitat has changed and the species has not been confirmed. There is a possibility of finding the species in other localities, since the seed productivity is high and it spreads by wind.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Znepole region (Milevska Mt, along the road between Sredorek and Dolno Kobile villages).
General distribution. Scandinavia, mountains of C and S Europe, Crimea, Caucasus, Asia Minor, NW Iran.
Threats. Natural successions of the vegetation cover; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. The locality is within a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Field work to confirm the distribution of the species in the country.
References. Gussev & Dimitrov 1997.
Author: Chavdar Gussev
