Senecio subalpinus
Senecio subalpinus W.D.J. Koch
Senecio pancicii Degen var. arnautorum (Velen.) Stoj. & Stef.4
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial with subterranean rhizome. Stems erect, up to 60 cm high, usually simple. Lower cauline leaves cordate, undivided, toothed, with a long petiole; middle shortly petiolate, upper with auriculate base, semiamplexicaul, deeply toothed or irregularly pinnatifid. Synflorescence corymbose, with 5–15 capitula with yellow to yellowish orange tubular and ligulate flowers. Phyllaries linear to linear-lanceolate, green. Fruit achene with pappus. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VI–IX. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Sphagnum bogs, meadows and streamside grass communities. The population covers a small area and has low number of individuals. It is severely fragmented due to the mosaic occurrence of the habitat. Reproductive capability is considered to be good.
Distribution in Bulgaria. West Frontier Mts (Osogovska Mt), at 1500–1700 m alt.
General distribution. Carpathians, Eastern Alps and the mountains in western and central parts of the Balkan Peninsula.
Threats. Limited distribution, specific ecological requirement of the species, stock grazing, habitat destruction and littering.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the Biodiversity Act. The localities are within a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Sustainable management and conservation of the habitats of the species and monitoring of the population. Preparation and implementation of an action plan for conservation of the species.
References. Velenovský 1891; Chater & Walters 1976; Dimitrov 1998; Vladimirov 2010.
Authors: Boris Assyov, Cvetomir M. Denchev & Vladimir Vladimirov
