Ruta graveolens
Ruta graveolens L.
Rutaceae – Rue family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,v)c(ii,iv); C1]. BDA. Tertiary relict.
Morphology and biology. Semi-shrubby, somewhat woody at base, with strong smell. Stems 15–60 cm, erect, glabrous. Leaves glaucous to yellowish green, pruinose, dotted with translucent glands, 2–3-pinnatisect; ultimate segments obovate to linear-lanceolate; lower and middle leaves petiolate, uppermost subsessile. Inflorescence lax, terminal cyme. Petals 6–9 mm long, spathulate, ciliate at margin, yellow. Fruit a capsule. Fl. V–VIII, fr. VI–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry, stony and rocky places on limestone. Forms populations with a small areas of occupancy. Takes part in grass and scrub communities together with Quercus pubescens, Fraxinus ornus, Paliurus spina-christi, Syringa vulgaris, Cotinus coggygria, Jasminum fruticans, Koeleria penzesii, Festuca valesiaca, Melica transsilvanica, Stipa cappilata, Teucrium chamaedrys, T. polium, Asperula cynanchica, Potentilla pilosa, Stachys recta, Sideritis montana, Satureja coerulea, Achillea clypeolata, Digitalis lanata, Lychnis coronaria, Ranunculus illyricus, etc.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast, NE Bulgaria, Forebalkan, Rhodopi Mts (C, E), Thracian Lowland, Toundzha Hilly Country; up to 500 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula, Crimean Peninsula, Mediterranean coastal areas.
Threats. Collection of the plant for medicinal purposes; limited distribution; low population density; destruction of populations caused by afforestation and exploitation of lime quarries; trampling and grazing by domestic animals.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some localities are situated in protected territories (Kaliakra and Chervenata Stena Strict Nature Reserves, Shumensko Plato Nature Park, Ognyanovo-Sinitevski Rid, Anatema and Lale Bair Protected Sites) and sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. The species is preserved in an ex situ collection at the IBER, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the occurrences aimed at the optimization of the species protecting regime; if needed, re-introduction of the taxon from the ex situ collection.
References. Townsend 1968; Stanev 1977a, b; Petrova 1979; Genova 1984; Rousakova & Vitkova 1996; Vitkova 1998; Stoyanov & Kolev 2008.
Author: Antonina Vitkova
