Turgeniopsis foeniculacea
Turgeniopsis foeniculacea (Fenzl) Boiss.
Apiaceae – Carrot family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR C2a(i); D]. BDA. Tertiary relic.
Morphology and biology. Annual. Stems 20–40 cm high. Leaves 3–4-pinnate, with very fine capillary segments. Compound umbels on long peduncles; rays 2–3, partial umbels with 2–3 hermaphrodite and several male flowers in the centre. Fruits elliptic, with hooked spines. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VI. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, dispersed through zoochory or barochory.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in stony grasslands and scrubland, screes, on limestone bedrock, usually on shallow soil in the xerothermic oak-forests belt. Grows together with Inula aschersoniana, Agropyron brandzae, Koeleria simonkaii, Polygala rhodopea, Medicago rhodopea, Galium rhodopeum, Jasminum fruticans, etc. Population is strongly fragmented; subpopulations comprise 3–4 to 10–15 plants. The total number of individuals is not more than 50–60.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (central – in the upper parts of the southern slopes of the ridges above the villages Markovo and Belashtitsa, and above Asenovgrad), Thracian Lowland (Besaparski hills, 1–2 km west of Kurtovo Konare village, Plovdiv district); 300–600 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, SW Asia (Asia Minor, Syria to Iran).
Threats. Poor competitive ability of the species and small population; overgrazing and strong soil erosion; stone-pitting.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the Biodiversity Act.
Conservation measures needed. Designation of the localities in Novoselsko-Krichimski ridge of Besaparski hills and the part of the Rhodopi Mts above Markovo village as protected areas; study on the biology and ecology of the species; cultivation in ex situ collections in botanical and rock gardens; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Stanev 1976, 1984a, b; Assenov 1982.
Author: Stefan Stanev
