Potentilla nicicii
Potentilla nicicii Adamović
Rosaceae – Rose family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb. Stems 20–50 cm, erect, hairy. Basal and lower cauline leaves on 5–7 cm long petioles, digitate, with 5–7 serrate leaflets; upper cauline with 5 leaflets, shortly petiolate; all leaves on both faces with appressed, long, simple, eglandular hairs and numerous glandular hairs, also with short hairs beneath. Flowers up to 40 mm in diameter. Calyx of 2 rows; outer sepals longer than inner, lanceolate, acute. Petals yellow. Ovaries glabrous. Achenes arranged in a head of ovate, rugose achenes. Fl. V–VI, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in stony and grassy places. Only one population is known and it comprises several hundred to a few thousand individuals growing scattered or in small groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Forebalkan (western – Vrushka Chouka hill); at 400–700 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria and Serbia.
Threats. Habitat change due to natural succession of the grasslands to forests; ruderalization of the grasslands, small population size and low density.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species under the national Biodiversity Act. Part of the population is included in Vrashka Chuka Protected Site.
Conservation measures needed. Precise estimation of the population size and area of occupancy, studies on the species biology and ecology and the impact of the particular threats; population monitoring and deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; designation of Vrashka Chuka hill as a Natura 2000 area.
References. Markova 1973, 1984, 2006.
Author: Vladimir Vladimirov
