Viola pumila
Viola pumila Chaix
Violaceae – Violet family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN A4c; B2ab(iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous arosulate perennial. Stems 5–20 cm, erect. Leaves somewhat coriaceous, 2–6 cm long and 1–2 cm wide, crenate. Petals initially violet, becoming paler to whitish later, ciliate at base and with 3–5 darker veins. Capsule with 3 valves, oblong-ovate, yellowish brown, about 10 mm long and 6–7 mm wide. Seeds brown, 2 mm long, 1 mm wide. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VI. Pollination mechanisms are not well known but self-pollination (cleistogamy) is very likely (typical for the whole family). Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in mesophytic to hygrophytic grass communities at lower elevations. Soil is usually well developed, moist. Populations are fragmented, each fragment consisting of a few 10s to a few 100s of individuals. Fluctuations in numerical strength have been detected in the years of observations.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Sofia region (Kokalyane, Tsruklevtsi villages), Znepole region (Dragoman town, Aldomirovtsi village); 500–1000 m alt.
General distribution. C and E Europe, extending to 56° northwards, and to N Italy, W France southwards; Asia Minor, Siberia, W China.
Threats. Habitat draining and aridisation; adherence to a specific and rare habitat; transition of the wet meadows into arable land; low competitive capacity.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. The area in the region of Aldomirovsko Blato swamp is in a Protected Site. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. An action plan for species conservation was detailed in 2005.
Conservation measures needed. Regular mowing of wet meadows; maintenance of moderate substrate disturbance in the relevant localities.
References. Delipavlov 1979, 1984; Andreev 1993; Pedashenko 2006.
Authors: Iva Apostolova & Tenyo Meshinev
