Psephellus marschallianus
Psephellus marschallianus (Spreng.) K. Koch
Centaurea marschalliana Spreng.2, 4, 5
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial. Stems 10–20 (30) cm, ascending, pipe-like curved. Basal leaves 6–12 mm long, pinnate, gray adpressed hairy, petiolate; lower and upper cauline leaves entire, middle cauline leaves lyrate. Capitula 3–4 cm in diameter. Involucre 10–15 mm in diameter, ovate. Involucral bracts triangular; appendages elongated, brown, with 3–4, up to 1 mm long fimbriae on both sides. Florets pink. Achenes ca.4 mm long with ca.1.5 mm long pappus. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VI. Insect pollination.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry places. Participates in peri-Pannonic shrub communities. Populations are with 100–200 each, in good state, but strongly fragmented; migration potential low due to their adaptation to a very specific habitat.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern), NE Bulgaria; up to 500 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Ukraine.
Threats. Reduction of the population area as a result of agricultural activities; low migration potential; specific characteristics of the species habitat; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the population state; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Dostál 1976; Bancheva 2008.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
