Scabiosa atropurpurea
Scabiosa atropurpurea L.
Dipsacaceae – Teasel family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN A4c; B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Biennial. Stem up to 60 cm high, erect, branched at middle, sparsely pubescent. Leaves opposite, scabrid, lower ovate or lyrate, dentate, upper pinnatifid, segments linear. Capitula 1.5–3 cm in diameter, oblong-ellipsoid in fruit, with 8–10 linear bracts. Florets violet-pink, outer larger than the inner. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry, stony and sandy, shallow soil in open or destroyed herbaceous communities. Forms small groups with less than 100 individuals. The population westwards from Shtit village consists of more than 700 individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Southern – S of Burgas), Thracian Lowland (between Raykova Mogila and Shtit villages, Svilengrad region), Tundzha Hilly Country (W of Melnitsa village, Elhovo region), Strandzha Mts (in the valleys of Veleka and Rezovska rivers); 0–300 m alt. Reported also for Black Sea Coast (Northern).
General distribution. S Europe, N Africa and Asia Minor (the coastline of the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea).
Threats. Grazing and trampling by domestic animals near urban areas; habitat fragmentation as a consequence from ploughing and tourism development along the southern Black Sea coast; natural and anthropogenic fires.
Conservation measures taken. Part of the populations are within the borders of Strandzha Nature Park and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Restriction of grazing and construction activities within the species localities; detailed study of the area and number of individuals of the populations, biology and ecology of the species and threats.
References. Matthews 1972; Bondev 1984.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
