Veronica euxina
Veronica euxina Turrill
Pseudolysimachion euxinum (Turrill) Holub3
Scrophulariaceae –Figwort family
Conservation status. Regional extinct [RE]. BDA, BC.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbs with slender, creeping rhizomes. Stem erect, ascending, solitary, 25–45 cm high, with long, glandular hairs throughout. Basal leaves broadly elliptical, short periolate to sessile, cauline leaves similar to basal, sessile, gradually decreasing on size; all leaves densely glandular. Flowers numerous, inflorescence terminal racemes, glabrous. Petals pale blue with rose tinge. Fruit unilocular, dehiscent capsule. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Inhabits stony places in light oak forests and shrubs. Some individuals, dispersed in a comparatively large territory have been found. The locality around Senokos village (Dobritch district) is destroyed. The attempts for the confirmation of the species in the last decade in the classical locality (hills south from the town of Varna) and nearby localities were not successful, although carried out in the right vegetation season.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – southwards from Varna), NE Bulgaria (near Senokos village); up to 50 m alt.
General distribution. E Europe – Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria.
Threats. The reasons for the extinction of the species in Bulgaria are not known.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act.
Conservation measures needed. Reintroduction in the classical locality with genetic material from natural localities.
Note . Veronica euxina was considered a Bulgarian endemic. There are references for the distribution of the species in Ukraine and Moldova. A detailed verification of the occurrence of the species in the new localities is necessary. In case of a taxonomic error, this species has to be classified in the category of the world extinct species.
References. Peev 1984; Fisher, Peev 1995; Mosyakin & Fedoronchuk 1999; Andreev et al. 2003; Peev 2006.
Authors: Dimitar Peev, Sonya Tsoneva
