Verbascum adrianopolitanum
Verbascum adrianopolitanum Podp.
Scrophulariaceae – Figwort family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(ii)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Biennial, densely covered by simple, long branched hairs and glandular hairs. Stem 60–150 cm, leafy, branched from below, branches ascending, glandular. Basal leaves with 1.5–5 cm long petioles, lamina entire, 5–10 cm long, 1.5–2 cm wide, glandular, oblong lanceolate, cuneate at base, crenate-dentate. Cauline leaves green, sessile, acute; lower lanceolate, upper ovate-lanceolate, sharply dentate. Flowers in a lax spike. Calyx 5–7 mm long, lobes divided to the base, lanceolate, acute or elliptical. Corolla 20–28 mm in diameter, golden yellow, with distinct bright spots at base; outer surface with scattered hairs, inner glabrous. Stamens 5; filaments covered by purple papillae; the lower two stamens in the upper 1/3 glabrous. Seeds 0.7–0.8 mm long, conical-prismatic. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in dry, sunny, grassy and stony places, on silicate and limestone, abandoned cultivated land, in sparse oak forests. Populations are small, on restricted areas, with single individuals and low densities. Seed reproduction is at a low rate.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central – Tvarditsa and Chochovene villages, Sliven region), Rhodopi Mts (eastern – between Krumovgrad and Ivailovgrad towns: Gugutka and Gorno Lukovo villages, around Ivailovgrad dam, Cherna Cherkva), Thracian Lowland (Mezek and Kamilski Dol villages, Svilengrad region; Gradishte village and between Lozen and Cherna Mogila villages, Haskovo region; Kolarovo village, Stara Zagora region), Strandzha Mts (between Fakiya village and Sredets town); from sea level up to 1000 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, NE Greece, Turkey-in-Europe).
Threats. Grazing, afforestation, including by natural means; populations with low density and low numbers of individuals.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring and study of the numerical strength and areas of distribution of the species; study of the biology and ecology of the species, threats and habitat state; inclusion of some localities in protected areas; collection of seeds for storage in relevant seed gene banks.
References. Stefanova 1984; Stefanova-Gateva 1992; 1995; Uzunov et al. 2002.
Author: Chavdar Gussev
