Pallenis spinosa
Pallenis spinosa (L.) Cass.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Annual to perennial plant. Stems up to 60 cm, softly hairy. Stems hard, woody at the base, usually branched, the branches overtopping the main stem. Leaves lanceolate to elliptical, obtuse, mucronate; basal petiolate; cauline sessile and semi-amplexicaul. Involucral bracts in 2–3 rows; the outer 1.5–3.5 cm, ovate, with a long, patent, spine-tipped, leaf-like apex exceeding the ligules; the inner ovate, coriaceous, with a short, narrow, green apex. Ligules deeply 3-toothed at apex; tubular florets 5-lobed. Achenes 2–2.5 mm.Fl. V–VII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, dispersed by wind.
Habitats and populations. It grows in shrubby and dry grasslands, on andesite rocks and shallow soil. Subpopulations are fragmented to a certain extent, consisting of low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Southern), Rhodopi Mts (Eastern).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula, Mediterranean region, Balearic islands, Crimea, Turkey.
Threats. Ploughing, afforestation and especially the building of tourist complexes.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. A significant part of its population is within the borders of Strandzha Nature Park. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Elaboration of an action plan for the species is needed as well as detailed study of its chorology, population size, biology and ecology. Long-term monitoring and collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Tutin 1976; Ganchev 1984; Delipavlov 1988, Peev 1992a.
Author: Dessislava Dmitrova
