Reichardia picroides
Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Glabrous perennial. Stems 10–45 cm. Leaves smooth or ± papillate; basal 2–13 × 0.5–2.5 cm, oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, entire to pinnatisect; lower cauline similar to basal but sessile, amplexicaul, the upper smaller and often entire. Capitula 1–5; peduncles long, with numerous small, ovate, acuminate bracts which have a scarious margin. Involucre 10–20 × 8–14 mm, glabrous. Ligules yellow, the outer usually with a dark stripe on outer surface, 1.5–2 times as long as involucre. Achenes 2–3 mm, the outer 4–5-angled, transversely rugose, the inner smooth. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means. Achenes dispersed by wind.
Habitats and populations. Dry, stony and rocky places at the sea shore between Ahtopol and Rezovo villages. Subpopulations small, fragmented with few individuals each.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (southern).
General distribution. S Europe, N America.
Threats. Mainly anthropogenic – development of tourism and building of tourism facilities, but also natural drivers due to the restricted distribution of the species.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. The localities are in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Detailed study of the species chorology, population size, biology and ecology. Long-term monitoring and collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Jordanov 1934; Sell 1976; Kochev 1984.
Author: Dessislava Dimitrova
