Sideritis lanata
Sideritis lanata L.
Lamiaceae – Mint family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii)].
Morphology and biology. Annual. Stem 10–30 cm high, often branched from base, densely tomentose. Leaves opposite, elliptical to orbicular, obtusely dentate, shortly petiolate or sessile, with spreading hairs. Verticillasters distant, with 4–6 flowers. Corolla ca.6 mm long, 2-lipped, yellowish, with dark purple to black lobes, almost as long as the calyx. Nutlet ca.1 mm long, dark brown, ovate, glabrous. Fl. IV–V, fr. VI–VII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on dry sandy and stony soil in open herbaceous communities consisting mainly of annual species (class Thero-Brachypodietea), in open oak forests, field boundary strips, or in destroyed herbaceous coenoses. Populations have low numbers of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. West Frontier Mts (S and E foothills of Ograzhden Mt), valley of Struma River (southern); 100–500 m alt.
General distribution. Southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, Aegean islands and Asia Minor.
Threats. Grazing and trampling by domestic animals near urban areas; fragmentation and loss of habitats as a consequence of the establishment of permanent plantations and ploughing; natural and anthropogenic fires; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. Part of the localities are within the borders of Tisata Strict Nature Reserve near Kresna and within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Restriction of grazing in the known localities; study of the area and number of individuals of the populations, biology and ecology of the species and threats; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Huber-Morath 1982; Ganchev 1984; Assenov 1989.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
