Tulipa aureolina
Tulipa aureolina Delip.
Liliaceae – Lily family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Bulbous perennial. Bulb tunic brown, hairy at the inner part of the base. Stem up to 40 cm. Leaves 3–4, narrowly lanceolate. Perianth segments yellow with a darker basal blotch inside or red, unequal; the inner obovate to spathulate; the outer longer, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate. Filaments glabrous. Fruit an elliptic-triangular capsule. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VI. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry grassy places and in openings of Paliurus spina-christi and Syringa vulgaris shrubs, in the xerothermic oak forest belts. Populations are small, with up to 250 mature individuals, some of which are in a declining stage.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (eastern – Bilka, Sadovo, Prilep villages, Lalkoto locality near Terzijsko and Venets villages, Sotirya village), Toundzha Hilly Country (Bulgarovo village); at 60–500 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. The limited distribution area of the species; small population size and low density; poor regenerating abilities; increasing agricultural and industrial activities causing irreversible habitat changes and deterioration (e.g. enlargement of the vineyards and fields, stone-pitting near Bulgarovo village); picking of flowers and collection of bulbs for gardening.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species under the national Biodiversity act. The locality near Sotirya village lies within the boundaries of Sinite Kamani Nature Park. The locality near Terzijsko and Venets villages is included in the Lalkoto Nature Monument.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the population size and area of occupancy; optimization of the size and location of the agricultural fields in accordance with the species localities and requirements; recovery of the locality near the stone-pit; reintroduction of the species in the localities from which it has already disappeared; deposition of seeds in the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Delipavlov 1976, 1984; Petrova 1992; Velchev 1992.
Author: Pepa Ignatova
