Opopanax chironium
Opopanax chironium (L.) Koch subsp. bulgaricum (Velen.) Andreev
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU A2c; B1b(iii,iv); D2]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial. Stem 2–2.5 m. Leaves simple to 2-pinnatifid, 20–60 cm long, 21–40 cm wide; lobes oblong to broadly ovate. Flowers small, yellow, in compound umbels. Fruit dry, oblong to broadly elliptical. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, dispersed by wind.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry and moderately humid scrubland, on eastern and south-eastern slopes, in the belt of xerothermic oak forests. Populations in most of the localities are with low numbers of individuals. Participates in the herbaceous layer of communities of Carpinus orientalis, Syringa vulgaris, Quercus pubescens and steppe species Paeonia peregrina, Plumbago europaea, Salvia ringens, etc.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – Kaliakra Strict Nature Reserve, Kamen Bryag village near Kavarna, Batova river, Ossenovo village, Varna region; southern – Rosen and Mandra villages, Bourgas region; estuary of Ropotamo River), NE Bulgaria (Provadia and Sindel village, Varna district); Balkan Range (eastern – Orlitsite Protected Site in Kotlen-Varbitsa mountain); Thracian Lowland (Rakovski village, Plovdiv district; Kozlets village, Haskovo district), Toundzha Hilly Country (Bakadzhitsite locality); from 0 up to 750 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria and Romania).
Threats. Building of hotels, golf courses and roads along the Black Sea coast.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Parts of the populations are within protected areas (Kaliakra and Ropotamo Strict Nature Reserves; Baltata Managed Nature Reserve; Yalata and Orlitsite Protected Sites) and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Conservation of the remaining localities by designation of new protected areas.
References. Velenovský 1902; Stojanov & Kitanov 1960; Andreev 1982; Arcus & Doroftei 2001.
Author: Dimitar Dimitrov
