Thalictrum foetidum
Thalictrum foetidum L.
Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(ii)+2ab(ii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, rhizomatous plant, with long curly hairs and simple glandular hairs. Stem 20–65 cm, c. 1.5 mm in diameter, not branched. Leaf sheaths short, with light brown appendages. Leaves 5 (6), regularly distributed along the stem, 2–4-pinnatisect, lower petiolate, upper sessile. Panicle lax, starting from the sheath of the sixth leaf, at fruit 1/3 of the plant height. Flowers yellow, nodding, with 12 mm long pedicels, subtended by bracts; perianth segments 3–5, elliptical, 3 mm long, 1 mm wide, deciduous. Stamens 15–22, on long, nodding filaments. Ovaries 8–12, sessile. Nutlets elliptical, sessile, with 8 ribs, and 1.2 mm long, hooked beak. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VIII.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry, stony, calcareous places, on shallow soils. Populations are strongly fragmented, with low number of individuals and migration potential.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Znepole Region; at about 1000 m alt.
General distribution. Europe, from E Spain to Ural Mts; Asia.
Threats. Destruction of the specific habitat, to which the species is adapted; afforestation; low migration potential of the species; grazing.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Part of the population is within the borders of Zhdreloto na Reka Erma Nature Monument and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the population state; if necessary support for the in situ reproduction; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Panov 1970; Evstatieva 1984.
Author: Svetlana Bancheva
