Petrorhagia thessala
Petrorhagia thessala (Boiss.) P.W. Ball & Heywood
Caryophyllaceae – Pink family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial. Stem erect, weakly branched in the upper part. Leaves linear. Inflorescence a capitulum. Bracts up to 4 mm wide, enclosing the calyx. Calyx glabrous or glandular, with oblong, obtuse teeth. Petals linear-spathulate, white, with pink to purple veins. Capsule many seeded. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Takes part in xerothermic grassy communities on limestone dominated by Chrysopogon gryllus, Dishanthium ischaemum, Stipa spp. and Festuca valesiaca.Populations are small, some fragments consisting of solitary individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Slavyanka Mt (Paril and Nova Lovcha villages), Pirin Mts (Southern – Lalevo locality at the foots of Sveta Elena peak); 500–1000 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Greece, R Macedonia.
Threats. Limited distribution; small population size; habitat deterioration due to small-scale afforestation, active grazing and trampling.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. The localities are in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. The localities near Nova Lovcha and Paril villages are in Alibotush Strict Nature Reserve.
Conservation measures needed. Establishment of a moderate regime of grazing in the species localities; stopping the use of non-native species for afforestation purposes; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Ball 1964; Radenkova 1966; Andreev 1984; Greuter et al. 1984; Jalas & Souminen 1986; Petrova & Vladimirov 2010.
Author: Pepa Ignatova
