Verbascum jankaeanum
Verbascum jankaeanum Pančić
Scrophulariaceae – Figwort family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. BDA. Bulgarian endemic.
Morphology and biology. Biennial, herbaceous plant. Stem up to 150 cm high, in the upper part branched, paniculate. Basal leaves ovoid or spear-shaped, with long petioles, at first densely hairy, later sparsely hairy. Flowers in groups of 4–7 on the branches of the inflorescence. Calyx 5-merous. Corolla 5-merous, golden yellow, up to 2.5 cm in diameter. Fruit ovate-cylindrical capsule. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–X. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Light places in forests and highland grasslands in the coniferous belt, on poor shallow soils. Populations are of low number of individuals and high degree of fragmentation. The largest known occurrence (with several hundreds individuals) is that in the area of Kirilova Polyana locality and lake Suhoto Ezero. Near the Rila monastery and in the valley of Drushlyavitsa River only single plants have been observed.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rila Mts (Rila Monastery, Droushlyavitsa River, Kirilova Polyana locality, Souhoto Ezero Lake), Rhodopi Mts (Western – Pashino Burdo, Rakitovo district), up to 1800 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Threats. Limited distribution, peculiar biology and ecological requirements, destruction and pollution of the habitats due to tourism and infrastructure development in the known localities.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. All known localities are within Rilski Manastir Nature Park as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Sustainable management and conservation of the habitats and the known localities. Survey of the populations’ extent and monitoring of their status. Preparation and implementation of an action plan for the species.
References. Stefanova 1984; Stefanova-Gateva 1995; Peev & Tzoneva 2004; Vassilev et al. 2007.
Authors: Boris Assyov, Cvetomir M. Denchev
