Sonchus palustris
Sonchus palustris L.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(i,ii,iii); C2a(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial; stem 100–250(400) cm, simple, angled, the upper part and the inflorescence with dense glandular hairs. Basal leaves oblong-lanceolate, entire to pinnatifid; cauline with lanceolate, acute, denticulate auricles, the upper cauline leaves smaller and linear-lanceolate. Capitula terminal, pedunculate, densely glandular hairy. Ligules as long as corolla-tube. Achenes ca. 3.75 × 1.2 mm, oblong-elliptical, rugose between the ribs, with wide margin. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means. Achenes dispersed by wind.
Habitats and populations. Mosaic subpopulations with small number of individuals distributed in marshes and other wet places.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast, NE Bulgaria (Srebarna Lake), Danubian Plain; from sea level up to 50 m alt.
General distribution. C Europe, Caucasus and Armenia.
Threats. Draining of marshes and wet places.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. The localities in NE Bulgaria are within the Srebarna Managed Reserve and these at the southern Black Sea coast are within the borders of Silistar Protected Site. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Elaboration of an action plan for the species is needed as well as detailed study of its chorology, population size, biology and ecology; long-term monitoring; collection and deposition of seeds in the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria. If necessary, proclamation of a protected area to preserve the species localities.
References. Jordanov 1929; Boulos 1976; Kochev 1984.
Author: Dessislava Dimitrova
