Stachys maritima
Stachys maritima Gouan
Lamiaceae – Mint family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1b(iii)c(ii,iii,iv)+2b(ii,iv)c(ii,iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous rhizomatous perennial. Stems 10–30 cm, ascending, with short, non-flowering shoots at base. Leaves elliptical, obtuse, white villous-tomentose, lower petiolate, upper sessile; bracts longer than verticillasters. Verticillasters 6–8 flowered, forming a spike-like inflorescence. Calyx white, villous-tomentose. Corolla pale yellow, tomentose. Nutlets small, ovoid, dark brown, narrowly winged. Fl. V–VIII, fr. VII–IX. Reproduction by seeds. Populations have good reproduction potential.
Habitats and populations. Grows on maritime sands and dunes. Populations are strongly fragmented and small.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast.
General distribution. Mediterranean area, Black Sea coastal areas.
Threats. Urbanization in the coastal areas; intensive tourism development; reduction of the area of dunes and beaches; house-hold pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within Kamchiyski Pyasatsi, Ustieto na R. Veleka and Silistar Protected Sites as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Effective guarding of the surviving populations.
References. Koeva 1989; Meshinev et al. 1994.
Author: Iva Apostolova
