Viola crinita
Viola crinita (Delip.) Delip.
Viola orphanidis Boiss. subsp. crinita Delip.1, 3, 6
Violaceae –Violet family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iv,v) + 2ab(ii,iv,v)]. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb, softly hairy. Stem 20–50 cm high, erect, nonbranched. Leaves blunt crenate, with 3–7 veins. Stipules palmate or deeply pinnate, the central segment bigger than lateral segments, with stalk. Flowers not fragrant, 1–5 on the stem, solitary on the base at the cauline leaves. Petals blue violet, upper pointing upwards and outwards, lateral curved to the upper ones and outwards, lower pale, orange at base, with dark violet veins, rotund or slightly indented at the apex. Fruit capsule. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Reproduction by seeds with good germination rate.
Habitats and populations. Inhabits mountain meadows and pastures, mainly in lower terrain, in the alpine and subalpine belts. The populations are not numerous, fragmented, formed by small groups of 5–10 individuals, often solitary in the herbaceous community.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Mt Slavyanka, Pirin Mts (northern – locality Bayovi Dupki); 1500–2100 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia.
Threats. Trampling as a result of the active tourism in the area of distribution of the species, gathering and pollution with waste, trampling and grazing by domestic stock.
Conservation measures taken. Big part of the localities are in the border of Bayovi Dupki–Dzhindzhiritsa and Alibotush Strict Nature Reserves as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Investigation of the numerical strength and areas of the populations, biology and ecology of the species, monitoring of the state of the populations. Protection of the species by the national Biodiversity Act.
References. Delipavlov 1979; Delipavlov 1984; Micevsky 1995; Delipavlov 2003.
Authors: Dimitar Peev & Sonya Tsoneva
