Pleurospermum austriacum
Pleurospermum austriacum (L.) Hoffm.
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR A2ce; B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Biennial or perennial herbaceous plant. Stem 50–150 cm high, erect, ridged, glabrous. Leaves compound, 2–3-pinnate, triangular-ovate in outline, shining, glabrous; segments elliptical, dentate. Inflorescence compound umbel (the terminal one much larger than the lateral), with 12–20 rays, with numerous, eventually deflexed, entire or shallowly lobed bracts; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Florets small, white. Fruit dry, ca. 10 mm long, dehiscent in two parts (mericarps). Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by vegetative means and seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows along mountain rivers or drainage canals in the beech belt, participating in mesophytic or hygrophytic herbaceous communities. Populations are with low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rila Mts (Prodanovtsi village, Samokov district); 900 m alt. The species was collected once in 1963. It was reported in literature from Balkan Range (western, central) and Vitosha region, but no herbarium specimens were deposited.
General distribution. Mountains of C and E Europe; one isolated locality in Sweden.
Threats. Isolation of the population – the locality is at the southern periphery of the distribution area of the species; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the national Biodiversity Act.
Conservation measures needed. Detailed study of the area and number of individuals of the populations, study of the biology and ecology of the species and threats; search for new localities in appropriate habitats; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Tutin 1968; Assenov 1982; Andreev 1984.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
