Silene velcevii
Silene velcevii Jordanov & Panov
Caryophyllaceae – Pink family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Tufted perennial herbaceous plant. Stems up to 35 cm long, erect or procumbent. Leaves opposite, narrowly lanceolate to linear-elongate, up to 3.5 cm long and 0.8 cm wide, hairy on the midrib and on the edge. Flowers 3–7 in symmetrical dichasia, erect when flowering, later pendulous. Calyx 5-merous, 8–9 mm long. Petals white, bifid in the upper half, up to 1 cm long. Fruit spherical capsule with 6 curved backwards capsules. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Inhabits fissures in vertical limestone rocks. Populations are of low number of individuals and are severely fragmented.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Forebalkan (western – Kounino, Karloukovo), Balkan Range (western – “Lakatnishki Skali” Nature Monument), up to 900 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Limited distribution, peculiar biology and specific ecological requirements of the species, habitat destruction and pollution due to tourism development and quarrying in the known localities.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. One of the populations is within Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Sustainable management and conservation of the habitats and the known localities. Monitoring of the populations. Preparation and implementation of an action plan for the species and declaring of new protected areas.
References. Jordanov & Panov 1966; Petrova 1984, 2006a.
Authors: Boris Assyov, Cvetomir M. Denchev
