Thymus stojanovii
Thymus stojanovii Degen
Lamiaceae – Mint family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii); E]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, caespitose plant with numerous sterile shoots and creeping flowering stems. Flowering stems 5–7 cm high, ascending, reddish, pubescent; hairs deflexed. Leaves 5–7 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, lanceolate-elliptical, acute, glabrous or sparingly hairy on both sides, with numerous dark red glandular spots. Verticillasters with 12 flowers, in dense, terminal capitula. Calyx 3–4 mm long, purple, campanulate, with long simple hairs and glandular spots. Corolla 3.5–5.3 mm long, bright red, hairy on outer surface. Nutlets globose, light brown. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–X. Reproduction by rhizome shoots and seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows on dry, stony and grassy places. Populations are with low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (northern – near Banderitsa chalet), Rhodopi Mts (western, central); from 1300 up to 2400 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia).
Threats. Populations of the species are in areas with strong anthropogenic impact – tourism, grazing, mowing, herb collection, etc.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national biological Diversity Act. Part of the populations are within Pirin National Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the numerical strength and area of the populations, biology and ecology of the species. Proclamation of some of the localities as protected sites; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Degen 1924; Jalas 1972; Greuter et al. 1986; Markova 1989.
Author: Elena Genova
