Taraxacum bithynicum
Taraxacum bithynicum DC.
Asteraceae – Daisy family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2a; C2a(i)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant. Stems 3–10 cm, slender. Leaves usually shallowly pinnatifid, lobes triangular. Capitulum 9–12 mm long, 7–10 mm wide; outer involucral bracts, appressed to the inner, subovate, with margin. Ligules yellow, reddish on outer surface, short. Body of the achenes 3.5–4 mm long, beak 4–7 mm long, thick; pappus white. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds dispersed by wind.
Habitats and populations. Grows in damp to wet places, along lakes and streams, melting snow-drifts in the subalpine belt in communities of Poa alpina, Alopecurus gerardii, Alopecurus riloensis, etc.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (Golyam Kazan locality below Vihren peak, Bayuvi Dupki, Muratov peak, Gorno Vlahinsko Lake), Rila Mts (slopes of Manchu and Grebenite peaks); 2000–2900 m alt.
General distribution. S and SE Europe, SW Asia.
Threats. Construction of ski tracks, cable cars, roads in the higher parts of Rila and Pirin mountains.
Conservation measures taken. The localities are within the borders of Rila and Pirin National Parks and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species by the Biodiversity Act.
References. Richards & Sell 1976; Stojanov et al. 1967; Kochev 1984.
Author: Dimitar Dimitrov
