Saxifraga aizoides
Saxifraga aizoides L.
Saxifragaceae – Saxifrage family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii); C2a(ii)]. BDA. Glacial relic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbs forming sparse tuffs. Stems 4–8 cm high, branched, with remnants of old leaves. Leaves alternate, sessile, soft, and fleshy. Inflorescence lax cyme, peduncles patent, densely puberulent. Bracts linear-elliptical to linear, glabrous. Calyx lobes divided up to ½ of their length. Petals yellow or orange, with orange, red or deep red dot, longer than calyx, glabrous. Fruit capsule. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Stony and rocky places. Due to the specific ecological requirements the population is fragmented, covering ca.6 m2. The separate groups consist of 10–15 individuals. Due to climate aridisation, the quality of the habitat has changed. It caused diminishing of the population area. The habitats are not directly endangered.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (Central – Trigrad village), 1250 m alt.
General distribution. Europe (except the most southern parts), Arctic area, N America.
Threats. Aridisation of the climate, small populations, very specific ecological requirements.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. The locality is in Trigradsko Zhdrelo Protected Site and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Detailed investigation of the sizes and areas of the populations, biology and ecology of the species, monitoring of the state of the population, development of an action plan for the species.
References. Kuzmanov 1970; Ganchev 1984.
Authors: Dimitar Peev, Sonya Tsoneva
