Pulsatilla halleri
Pulsatilla halleri (All.) Willd.
Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous rhizomatous perennial. Rhizome cylindrical, with short roots. Stem 5–40 cm, densely sericeous. Basal leaves long petiolate, with 3–5 primary lobes, 1–2-pinnatisect, often developing after anthesis and withering at the end of the summer; ultimate leaf segments oblong to linear-lanceolate. Cauline leaves lobed to the base; lobes linear, densely sericeous. Flowers 5–8 cm in diameter, erect or slightly deflected, campanulate. Perianth-segments elliptical or ovate, violet, sericeous outside. Fruit a nut. Fl. II–IV, fr. V–VI. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in dry grassy and stony places, in scrub, on limestone. Often takes part in communities of Juniperus communis. Populations are with good numerical strength and form characteristic spring synusia.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Eastern – district of Sliven town), Rhodopi Mts (Central), Thracian Lowland (NW of Belovo town); 300–1000 m alt.
General distribution. Central (Alps, Carpathians) and SE Europe (Balkan Peninsula, Crimea).
Threats. Collecting of plants for ornamental purposes; urban development; tourism; afforestation.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some localities are in protected territories (Chervenata Stena Strict Nature Reserve in Rhodopi Mts, Sinite Kamani Nature Park in eastern Balkan Range) and sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Estimation of population size and area of distribution; research into species biology, ecology and threats; protection and maintenance of species habitat and territory occupied.
References. Jordanov & Kožuharov 1970; Panov 1975b; Koeva 1984; Sopotlieva & Petrova 2001; Grozeva & al. 2004; Tashev 2008.
Author: Desislava Sopotlieva
