Verbascum purpureum
Verbascum purpureum (Janka) Hub.-Mor.
Scrophulariaceae – Figwort family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iii)]. IUCN(R), BDA, BC. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Biennial plant, covered with short glandular hairs. Annual rosettes with elongated, deeply pinnatissect leaves. Flowering plants up to 100(140) cm high. Flowers up to 2.5 cm in diameter. Corolla yellow, filaments orange with white hairs, anthers reniform. Fruit a capsule. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, only very low percentage of the seedlings survives to flowering and fruiting phases.
Habitats and populations. Dry and sunny grasslands on sandy and stony terrains. Typical species for the coastal and fixed inland dunes. Found locally. Important localities are Pobiti Kamani natural phenomenon, dunes southwards of Kamchia River mouth, near Nesebar town and Sakar Mt. Density of the populations for which data exist is very low, usually below 0.05 plants/m2; the proportion between vegetative (annual) and flowering individuals is 95:5.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast, Tundzha Hilly Country; up to 200 m alt.
General distribution. Eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula (E Bulgaria, SE Romania, Turkey-in-Europe).
Threats. Touring and infrastructural activities during the last decades are the main causes of populations destruction. Considering the longer period, afforestation with pines, development of vineyards on sandy terrains and overgrazing are the other negative factors.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are in protected areas (Pobiti Kamani and Kamchiiski Pyasatsi Protected Sites) and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. A proposal for designation of the locality near Branitsa village (Harmanly Municipality) as a protected area has been submitted. An Action plan for conservation of the species is in a process of elaboration.
Conservation measures needed. Control for strict implementations of the limitation in the protected areas; monitoring of the populations; appropriate management of the coastal habitats; preservation of seeds in the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
Note.Stefanova-Gateva (1995) reported the species for Strandzha Mts, but the given settlements fall in the floristic region of Toundzha Hilly Country.
References. Georgiev & Kitanov 1939; Jordanov 1941; Meshinev et al. 1994; Petrova 1997; Stefanova-Gateva 1995; Filipova-Marinova et al. 2000; Filipova-Marinova & Petrova 2003.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
