Rhodiola rosea
Rhodiola rosea L.
Crassulaceae – Orpine family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR A4d; B2ab(iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial with thick, flashy rhizome, that has a rose aroma. Flowering stems many, 25–30 cm high. Leaves rounded-elliptical, sessile, glabrous, reddish bluish. Cymes with many flowers. Flowers 4–5-lobed, with long pedicels, unisexual, usually pale pink, pale or dark yellow. Follicles 6–8 mm long, with many seeds, greenish or reddish. Seeds up to 2 mm long. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Reproduction by vegetative means and seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in stony and rocky places in high parts of the mountains, above timberline. Very often it grows on screes and places close to melting snow drifts. The populations in localities in Balkan Range and Pirin Mts are small. Biggest and with considerable projective cover are the populations in Rila Mts.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (western, central), Rila Mts, Pirin Mts; at 2000–2600 m alt.
General distribution. Europe, Siberia, SW Asia (Asia Minor), C Asia, Japan-China region, N America.
Threats. Collected as a medicinal plant for private use, trade within the country and abroad; avalanches; low population density.
Conservation measures taken. The main part of the populations is within the borders of Rila, Pirin and Central Balkan National Parks, Rilski Manastir Nature Park, and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Introduction in cultivation in order to satisfy the market demands and to protect the natural resources.
References. Valev 1970; Evstatieva & Revina 1985; Vladimirov & Kozhuharov 1997; Todorova et al. 2006.
Author: Tenyo Meshinev
