Veronica turrilliana
Veronica turrilliana Stoj. & Stef.
Scrophulariaceae –Figwort family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iv); C1]. IUCN (R), BDA, BC. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbs with vertical root. Stem erect, 8–35 cm high, branched, pubescent. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, ovoid, elliptical to lanceolate, very shortly petiolate or sessile, with small glands. Flowers in sparsely racemes. Petals lilac blue, with pale yellow ring in the middle. Bracts entire, lanceolate, glabrous. Fruit ovoid, slightly biconvex capsule. Fl. IV–V, fr. VI–VIII. Pollinated by insects. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Inhabits dry limestone rocks and rocky crevices. Forming fragmented populations, consisting of few, dispersed individuals. The locality northwards from the town of Malko Tarnovo (loco classico) is destroyed.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Strandzha Mts (S of Zvezdets village – locality Kovach; N of Stoilovo village – Petrova niva locality; Slivarovo village, springs of Mladezhka River, Sredoka and Vitanovo reserves); at ca. 200 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Turkey-in-Europe (Strandzha Mts).
Threats. Aridisation of the climate and degradation of the habitat leading to the decrease of the locality number, territory and reduction of the number of the plants.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. The localities are on the territory of Strandzha Nature Park, including in the Sredoka and Vitanovo Strict Nature Reserves, and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Investigation of the numbers and areas of the populations, biology and ecology of the species. Investigation of the possibilities for developing ex situ collections. Collection of seeds for the National Gene Bank in Sadovo
References. Peev 1973; Peev 1984; Peev 1995; Gussev et al. 1997; Peev 2006.
Authors: Dimitar Peev, Sonya Tsoneva
