Sideritis syriaca
Sideritis syriaca L.
Lamiaceae – Mint family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv); C2a(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial, grey- or white-lanate. Stems simple or branched, woody at base. Leaves oblong or narrowly obovate. Verticillasters with 6 to 10 flowers. Bracts suborbicular, shorter to equal to the flowers, usually distant. Corolla yellow, tube hidden in the calyx, upper lip erect, lower 3-lobed. Nutlets ovoid, smooth. Fl. V–VI, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry, calcareous stony grasslands, strongly eroded, in some places with exposed rocks. Both known localities have been confirmed in the past 10 years. Populations are strongly fragmented. The number of individuals is low, 10 to 25 mature plants in each occurrence. Participates in the composition of eroded grasslands.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Strandzha Mts (Dokuzak and Peikovo localities; Sredoka Reserve – Ostra Chuka locality, Aidere River and Popinski bridge near Stoilovo village). The data about the species distribution in NE Bulgaria (Dobrudzha region) have not been confirmed.
General distribution. S Europe (from Sicily to Crimea), SW Asia.
Threats. The very restricted distribution, low number of individuals in the populations, low reproduction rate and intensive collection as a medicinal plant threaten the species with complete extinction.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Part of the population is within the borders of Sredoka Reserve and Dokuzak Protected Site. There is a suggestion to expand the area of the protected site so as to include Peikovo locality. The localities are within a site of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the reproductive biology and possibilities for ex situ cultivation; conservation of seeds in seed banks.
References. Velchev 1984; Assenov 1989; Evstatieva & Vasilev 1995; Evstatieva & Popova 1998; Todorova et al. 2000.
Author: Lyuba Evstatieva
