Sisymbrium polymorphum
Sisymbrium polymorphum (Murray) Roth.
Brassicaceae – Cabbage family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous annual to perennial. Stems 20–100 cm. Leaves somewhat fleshy, usually glabrous, pinnatisect, lateral lobes narrowly lanceolate to linear. Inflorescence racemose, usually branched. Flowers long-pedicellate. Petals pale yellow, clawed at base. Fruit a linear siliqua, valves 3-veined. Seeds numerous, reddish brown. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Insect and self-pollinated. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in grassy places by fields, scrub and mixed deciduous forests on chernozems or stony calcareous soil.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Northeast Bulgaria (Kanagyol forest in Silistra district, Rositsa village, Dobrich district); up to 400 m alt.
General distribution. C and E Europe (Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Hungary), the Caucasus, C Asia, E Siberia.
Threats. The increased anthropogenic pressure in the localities, intensive agriculture with changes of field borders, stock-farming and associated with it grazing and mowing cause habitat changes and reduction of the species area of occupancy.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act.
Conservation measures needed. Population monitoring and restriction of the human economic activities within the species localities.
Note S. polymorphum is a steppe-arctic species and the occurrences in Northeast Bulgaria represent the southernmost limit of its distribution area in the Balkan Peninsula.
References. Stojanov et al. 1955; Andreev 1984; Ball 1993; Ančev 2001, 2007.
Authors: Valentina Goranova & Mincho Anchev
