Potentilla emili-popii
Potentilla emili-popii Nyár.
Rosaceae – Rose family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii,iv); C1; E]. IUCN(R), BDA, HD. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, with robust, multi-headed rhizomes. The whole plant is covered with long, white, sericeous hairs mixed with short setae. Flowering stems 15–50 cm high. Basal and lower cauline leaves palmate, with 5 leaflets, with up to 14 cm long petioles. Middle and upper cauline leaves ternate, with shorter petioles. Stipules of all leaves pinnate, accrete to the petiole. Flowers 12–15 mm in diameter; petals pale yellow. Nutlets ovate, rugose, brownish. Fl. V–VI, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in stony, rocky places, pastures and abandoned vineyards. Populations are with low numbers of individuals and low competitiveness. The largest is the population near Karapelit which amounts up to more than hundred individuals. There are herbarium specimens from Novi Pazar, Tervel, Devnya, Kochmar village that were collected in 1994 and 1974 respectively but these localities need to be confirmed.
Distribution in Bulgaria. NE Bulgaria; at 150–300 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (NE Bulgaria, SE Romania).
Threats. Changes in land use; low reproductive potential.
Conservation measures taken. The population near Karapelit is within the borders of a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the population state; inclusion of the localities in the Important Plant Areas network.
References. Delipavlov & Dimitrov 1972; Markova 1973; Nikolov et al. 1994.
Author: Tenyo Meshinev
