Spiraea salicifolia
Spiraea salicifolia L.
Rosaceae – Rose family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Shrub. Stems 1.5–2 m. Branches smooth, yellowish brown to yellowish grey. Leaves elliptic-oblong, 4–8 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, serrate. Inflorescence 4–12 cm long, terminal, oval-cylindrical, dense. Flowers pink. Fruit follicle. Seeds 2 mm long, fusiform. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Grows in sandy, moist places by Dospatska River. Represented by a single population comprising about 500–800 mature individuals occupying an area of less than 1 km2.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (western – by Dospatska river near Surnitsa village, Dospat region); 1200 m alt.
General distribution. C and E Europe, Asia (W Siberia extending to Sakhalin island and Mongolia), NW America.
Threats. Urban development; tourism; changes in land use practice; climate aridisation and limited distribution.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. The locality is in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. More detailed estimation of the population size and area of occupancy; research into species biology, ecology and threats; protection and maintenance of species habitat and area of distribution.
References. Kitanov 1936; Markova 1973.
Author: Desislava Sopotlieva
