Petrorhagia alpina
Petrorhagia alpina (Hablitz) P.W. Ball & Heywood
Caryophyllaceae – Pink family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous annual without non-flowering shoots. Stem erect, branched, glabrous. Basal leaves linear-spathulate, in a rosette; cauline leaves narrowly linear. Flowers ebracteate; pedicels patent. Calyx glabrous, with 5 short, triangular teeth. Petals white, entire. Capsule oblong-ovate. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows on limestone steep slopes with relatively stable soil cover. Populations are small, sometimes with fragments of few individuals. Seasonal fluctuations in the population numerical strength have been observed.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (northern – Kamenititsa cirque, Parev Grob and Presechen Kotel localities, Yavorov chalet, valley of Demyanitsa River); 1100–2150 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria), SW and C Asia.
Threats. Small population size; habitats deterioration due to pollution and trampling by tourists.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. The localities are within Pirin National Park, including in Bayuvi Dupki - Dzhindzhiritsa Strict Nature Reserve as well as in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of population size and area of occupancy in order to detect the seasonal fluctuations; minimization of the negative impact of tourism; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Ball 1964; Radenkova 1966; Coode & Cullen 1967; Andreev 1984; Greuter et al. 1984; Jalas & Souminen 1986.
Author: Pepa Ignatova
