Trachelium rumelianum
Trachelium rumelianum Hampe
Trachelium jacquinii subsp. rumelianum (Hampe) Tutin1
Campanulaceae – Bellflower family
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU B1ab(ii,iii,iv)]. IUCN(R). BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous caespitose perennial with branched rhizome. Flowering stems numerous, ascending or erect. Leaves alternate, elliptical, acutely serrate, subsessile. Inflorescence a dense terminal corymb, with many blue or bluish lilac flowers. Fruit an ovoid-turbinate capsule, dehiscing by 2-3 pores, many seeded. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. IX–X. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in limestone rocky places and rock crevices, in the oak and beach forest belts. Forms fragmented, usually small populations.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Valley of Struma River, Slavyanka Mt, Valley of Mesta River, Pirin Mts, Rhodopi Mts (central, eastern), from (500)1000 to 1500 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, Greece, European Turkey).
Threats. The increased anthropogenic pressure (wood cutting, road construction works, and exploitation of quarries) cause habitat changes and reduction of areas of occupancy. Potential threats are forest fires and global climatic changes (drying up).
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Listed in 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants (Walter & Gillet 1998) as “rare.” Some localities are within protected territories (Pirin National Park, Chervenata Stena and Alibotush Strict Nature Reserves) and sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Population monitoring aimed at the optimization of the species protection regime; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; research for elaboration of technologies for ex situ cultivation of the species for ornamental purposes.
References. Bondev 1984; Walters & Gillet 1998; Petrova & Vladimirov 2010; Ančev (in press).
Authors: Valentina Goranova & Mincho Anchev
