Ranunculus fontanus
Ranunculus fontanus C. Presl
Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Annual to perennial plant. Stems 5–25 (30) cm long, procumbent or creeping, rooting at nodes. Leaves entire, along the whole stem, broadly elliptical to broadly ovate, with 2–3 short, terminal teeth, with short petioles and basal sheaths. Flowers 0.5–0.6 cm in diameter, terminal or axillary; peduncles glabrous. Petals yellow, slightly exceeding the cup. Nutlets ca.1–1.5 mm long, glabrous. Fl. V–VII, fr. VI–IX.
Habitats and populations. In wet and damp meadows and along mountain streams. Populations are strongly fragmented and adapted to specific habitats, with low migration potential.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central), Znepole region, West Frontier Mts, Pirin Mts (southern), Rila Mts, Rhodopi Mts, Thracian Lowland; up to 2000 m alt.
General distribution. C Mediterranean area and Balkan Peninsula.
Threats. Draining of damp places and natural aridisation; low migration potential; specificity of the habitat to which the species is adapted.
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. Penev 1970; Assyov & Vasilev 2004; Petrova & Vassilev 2006.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
