Secale rhodopaeum
Secale rhodopaeum Delip.
Poaceae – Grass family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. IUCN(R). Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Laxly caespitose perennial. Stems 80–100 cm, erect. Leaves flat, rarely involute, 3–6 (9) mm wide, with glabrous sheaths. Inflorescence linear, dense, distichous spike, 6–7 cm long (excluding awns). Spikelets narrowly lanceolate; glumes linear-lanceolate glumes, acuminate or with a 6–10 mm awn. Lemma narrowly lanceolate, glabrous, scabrid on the keel, with scabrid awn. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds and vegetatively.
Habitats and populations. Dry, stony or grassy places on limestone, usually on shallow, soils. Forms fragmented populations with scattered individuals in smaller or larger groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (central – Trigrad gorge, eastern – peak Veykata); at 900–1300 m alt. The occurrence in the eastern Rhodopi Mt needs confirmation.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Tourism development and intensive car-traffic in the Trigrad gorge cause air and soil pollution (e.g. dust covering the plants), accidental trampling of individuals.
Conservation measures taken. Species habitats are of priority for conservation according to the Biodiversity Act. The known localities fall within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria; the locality in the central Rhodopi Mts lies in Trigradsko Zdrelo Protected site.
Conservation measures needed. Comprehensive study of the species biology and ecology and the particular threats in each locality; monitoring of selected populations; deposition of seeds in the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Delipavlov 1962, 2003; Kozhuharov 1984, 2006.
Author: Vladimir Vladimirov
