Sibbaldia procumbens
Sibbaldia procumbens L.
Rosaceae – Rose family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)]. Glacial relic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb. Flowering stems 2–5 (20) cm, procumbent or ascending, pubescent. Leaves ternate; leaflets 5–20 mm, obovate-cuneate, 3-toothed or -lobed at the truncate apex, usually pubescent. Flowers up to 4 mm in diameter, grouped in a dense cyme. Sepals 3–4 mm long, pubescent. Petals 1–2 mm long, lanceolate to oblong-spatulate, greenish yellow. Stamens usually 5. Fruit of several ovate glabrous achenes. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in subalpine and alpine grasslands and slopes. Populations are fragmented, of small size. Individuals usually grow in small groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (northern – Vihren peak), Rila Mts (Mousala peak), Rhodopi Mts (western – above Batak town); 2000–2800 m alt.
General distribution. N Europe, mountains of C and S Europe, Balkan Peninsula, W Siberia, N Africa.
Threats. Trampling of individuals due to mountain tourism in some localities; small population sizes and strong fragmentation; low competitiveness of the species.
Conservation measures taken. Rila and Pirin National Parks include some of the species localities. All localities fall within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Precise estimation of the population sizes and areas of occupancy; studies on the species’ ecology and biology; monitoring of selected subpopulations and collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Markova 1973; Bozhilova & Tonkov 1984.
Author: Vladimir Vladimirov
