Silene caliacrae
Silene caliacrae Jordanov & Panov
Caryophyllaceae – Pink family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii)+2ab(ii)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Biennial to perennial plant. Stems single or few, 25–55 cm, erect, glabrous. Leaves opposite, ovoid-wide lanceolate, entire, glabrous, glaucous. Inflorescence a terminal dichasium, 15–20 cm. Flowers hermaphroditic; calyx ellipsoidal, rounded at base; corolla white, corolla limb 4–5 mm. Fruit ovoid-conical capsule. Fl. V–VI, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Coastal limestone cliffs and rocks nearby, almost always in rock crevices. The subpopulations in the localities in the northern Black Sea coast between Tyulenovo village and Yailata locality and northwards of Kaliakra cape have comparatively high densities and stable numbers during the last years.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – between Shabla cape and Albena resort; southern – north of Rezovska River mouth); up to 50 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Limited distribution in a specific habitat; pulling downs of coastal cliffs. Part of the population was destroyed because of archaeological excavations and road constructions during the past decades.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the Biodiversity Act. Some subpopulations are in protected areas (Kaliakra Strict Nature Reserve, Yailata and Silistar Protected Sites). The localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Control for strict implementation of the limitations in the protected areas; preserving the coastal cliffs from infrastructural activities.
Note. There are no contemporary records for the localities northwards of Rezovo village and southwards of Balchik town.
References. Jordanov & Panov 1966; Petrova 1984; MOEW 1998; Petrova et al. 2002.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
