Oenanthe tenuifolia
Oenanthe tenuifolia Boiss. & Orph.
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(ii)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial. Roots slender, not thickened. Stem 30–60 cm, not branched, almost leafless. Leaves 4–15 × 2.0–3.5 cm, elliptical in outline, pinnate to 2-pinnate, pinnae 3-lobed, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate. Sheaths cuneate, grassy, gradually becoming shorter at upper leaves. Bracts of the compound umbel 7–8, linear-lanceolate or absent. Umbels with 10–25 flowers. Flowers 3–5 mm in diameter, slightly asymmetrical. Petals broadly obovate to rounded, white with brownish keel. Fruits cylindrical to slightly obconical, sepal teeth persistent, styles long. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Wet grasslands and shrubs. Populations are with small number of individuals and occur on restricted areas. Participates with single individuals in the composition of grasslands.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Toundzha Hilly Country (Sakar Mt – Vishegrad locality, Topolovgrad region), Strandzha Mts (Zvezdets, Krushevets and Gramatikovo villages), from 100 up to 850 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (S Albania, SE Bulgaria, C Greece).
Threats. Aridisation of climate, grazing, trampling and draining of localities. The small population size and low reproductive potential presuppose negative tendencies in the population dynamics.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the Biodiversity Act. The localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numerical strength and area, biology and ecology of the species; elaboration of an action plan for the species and monitoring of its populations; collection of seeds to be stored at National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Peev 1982; Evstatieva 1984.
Author: Chavdar Gussev
