Sambucus deborensis
Sambucus deborensis (Košanin) Košanin
Caprifoliaceae – Honeysuckle family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, with a creeping rhizome up to 3 m long. Stem 1–1.7 m high, sparsely pubescent. Leaves (10)13–21 × 10–20 cm, almost triangular in outline, imparipinnate, pale green. Stipules leaf-like, bipinnate, persistent. Inflorescence 5–8(10) cm in diameter, terminal, forming dense panicle with 5 main rays. Corolla snow-white, stamens almost equal to petals, erect, anther stalks snow-white, anthers purple. Fruit 4–5 mm long, glossy black with 3 seeds. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Single individuals in forest meadows, in lowlands and in foothill areas.
Distribution in Bulgaria. NE Bulgaria, Danubian Plain, Balkan Range (Central), Rhodopi Mts (Central).
General distribution. Albania, Bulgaria, R Macedonia.
Threats. Infrastructural development, cutting of forests, construction activities.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within Central Balkan National Park and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Elaboration of an action plan for the species; detailed study of its chorology, population size, biology and ecology; long-term monitoring; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria. If necessary, proclamation of a protected area to preserve the species’ localities.
References. Vihodcevski 1956; Markova 1995; Petrova & Vladimirov 2010.
Author: Dessislava Dimitrova
