Verbascum dieckianum
Verbascum dieckianum Borbás & Degen
Scrophulariaceae – Figwort family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(i)+2ab(i)]. BDA. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Biennial herbaceous plant. Stem up to 150 cm high, erect, tomentose, with a basal rosette of leaves. Leaves alternate, elliptical to triangular-ovate, denticulate, with dense, soft hairs. Flowering stems strongly paniculate. Flowers clustered in groups covered by an ovate, pubescent only at base bract. Fruit capsule. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–IX. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on shallow soil in dry grasslands or calcareous, rocky slopes. Plants are regularly distributed in the middle and lower water basin of Rusenski Lom river. Population consists of more than 3000 individuals. Most dense is the sub-population near Basarbovo village, where the species grows on typical loess areas, participating in the priority habitat Pannonic loess steppe grasslands.
Distribution in Bulgaria. NE Bulgaria (the valley of Rusenski Lom River); 50–200 m alt. Reported also from the Danubian Plain (near Svishtov).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (N Bulgaria, NE Greece, and R Macedonia).
Threats. Grazing and trampling by domestic animals; burning of dry grasses, shrubs and stubble fields; restricted distribution; isolated populations.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the national Biodiversity Act. About 80% of the species population is within the borders of Rusenski Lom Nature Park and within a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Expansion of the borders of Rusenski Lom Nature Park; restriction of grazing and burning of stubble fields; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Ferguson 1972; Stefanova 1984; Stefanova-Gateva 1995.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
