Paeonia tenuifolia
Paeonia tenuifolia L.
Paeoniaceae – Peony family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iv,v)]. BDA, BC. Interglacial relict.
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant with tuberous roots. Stems erect, 15–40 cm, with a terminal flower. Leaves alternate, 2–3-pinnate, with numerous linear segments. Flowers with 5–6 sepals and 8–10 large, dark red petals and many stamens with yellow anthers. Fruit with 3–4(5) hairy carpels. Fl. IV–V, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds. Recruitment is very low and limited within the boundaries in the localities as there are no special adaptations for dispersal.
Habitats and populations. Dry grasslands, almost always on stony limestone terrain. Found locally, subpopulations occupy areas of up to 0.5 ha, rarely to10 ha. Most numerous are the populations on moderately grazed pastures in Dobrudzha (vicinities of the villages Balgarevo, Vaklino, Tyulenovo, Sveti Nikola, Vranino, Vidno, Rakovski, Neikovo, Septemvriitsi, Krupen, Bezhanovo, Bozhanovo, Sredinsko, Sarneno) and the population in Bozhurlaka locality near Gorna Studena village. Some localities (near Malko Tarnovo in Strandzha Mts) have not been confirmed for decades.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast, NE Bulgaria, Danubian Plain (river Studena valley), Znepole region (near Dragoman), Sofia region (Ponor, Bozhurishte, etc.), Toundzha Hilly Country and Strandzha Mts; up to 700 m alt.
General distribution. SE Europe (Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia).
Threats. Local distribution and poor recruitment; in the past: ploughing up of the pastures and extreme overgrazing around the villages. Plans for wind generator parks on the Dobrudzha pastures are a very dangerous threat: the park constructed between Balgarevo and Kaliakra Cape destroyed one of the largest populations in the country.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species, the localities of which need priority conservation according to the Biodiversity Act. Some subpopulations are in protected areas (Kaliakra Strict Nature Reserve, Bozhurlaka Protected Site) or in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Strict enforcement of the regimes of the protected territories; declaration of new protected areas in the localities which qualify the Natura 2000 and Important Plant areas criteria.
References. Urumov 1905, 1929; Davidov 1909; Jordanov 1936; Velchev 1956; Ganchev 1960; Jordanov 1970; Koeva & Sharkova 1997; Petrova et al 2002; Meshinev et al. 2005; Tzonev et al. 2010.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
