Saussurea discolor
Saussurea discolor (Willd.) DC.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb. Stems 10–20 (40) cm, ascending near base, erect above. Leaves triangular-lanceolate, up to 60 mm wide, truncate to cordate at base, dentate, densely whitish-tomentose beneath. Capitula several, 1.5–2 × 0.8–1 cm, ovoid-campanulate, in a compact terminal corymb. Involucral bracts without apical appendages. Florets tubular, corolla bluish violet. Achenes glabrous, with pappus. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in subalpine and alpine rocky and grassy places. Represented in the country with only one isolated population with a small size.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rila Mts (in Sedemte Ezera locality); above 2400 m alt.
General distribution. The Alps, Apennines, Carpathians, mountains of Balkan Peninsula, Ural, Altai, Himalayan regions.
Threats. The population is threatened by habitat disturbance and trampling of individuals due to intensive mountain tourism in the locality. The species has low competitiveness.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species under the national Biodiversity Act. The locality lies within Rila National Park and a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Precise estimation of the population size and area of occupancy; studies on the species biology and ecology and the impact of the particular threats; population monitoring and deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Stojanov & Kitanov 1966; Lipschitz 1976; Roussakova 1984.
Author: Vladimir Vladimirov
