Streptopus amplexifolius
Streptopus amplexifolius (L.) DC.
Liliaceae – Lily family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant with short subterranean rhizome. Stems simple or in the upper part branched, up to 50–100 cm high. Leaves alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate, amplexicaul, up to 10–15 cm long. Flowers single, axillary, with up to 5 cm long pending pedicels. Perianth bell-shaped, 6-merous, segments lanceolate, up to 1 cm long, curved backwards. Fruit red berry with many seeds. Fl. VI–VI, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Damp, shady places in spruce forests and shady rocky places. Populations are with low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Western – Tri Chuki peak, unconfirmed since 1891), Vitosha Region, Rila Mts; at 1200–2000 m alt.
General distribution. C Europe, Pyrenean, Apennine and Balkan Peninsula, Corsica, E Siberia, Far East, China, Japan, N America.
Threats. Forestry activities in the forests and littering of the habitats due to tourism.
Conservation measures taken. Some of the known populations are within protected areas, Rila National Park, Rilski Manastir and Vitosha Nature Parks, as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Inclusion of the species in the list of protected plants. Sustainable management and conservation of the habitats and the known localities and monitoring of the populations.
References. Velenovský 1891; Kovachev 1961; Popova 1984.
Authors: Boris Assyov, Cvetomir M. Denchev
