Pancratium maritimum
Pancratium maritimum L.
Amaryllidaceae – Amaryllis family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Bulbous perennial. Stem 40–60 cm high. Leaves all basal, up to 50 cm long and 25 mm wide. Flowers 5–10, large, white, fragrant. Fruit capsule subglobose, more that 2 cm in diameter; seeds rounded, black after ripening, with high germination potential. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. IX. Reproduction mainly through vegetative means but also by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows on maritime sands and dunes. The population is strongly fragmented, with subpopulations of a different size. Although some subpopulations are large, the species is represented by relatively small number of individuals in the country as a whole.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (southern – Silistar, Tsarevo, Kiten, between Primorsko and Perla, the mouth of Ropotamo River, Arkoutino, Kavatsite, Irakli).
General distribution. Mediterranean area, Bulgarian coastal area, Turkey, Western Caucasus.
Threats. Urbanization in the coastal area; rapid tourism development; mechanical destruction of the above-ground parts of the plants; reduction of the size of suitable habitats; household pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some of the localities fall within Pyasachnata Lilya Managed Nature Reserve and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Effective guarding of the surviving subpopulations.
References. Jordanov 1964; Velchev & Vassilev 1976; Petrova 2008.
Author: Iva Apostolova
