Viola pyrenaica
Viola pyrenaica DC.
Violaceae – Violet family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, acaulescent herb. Leaves rotundate-reniform or broadly ovate, broadly cordate and crenate at base. Peduncles glabrous. Flowers odourless, solitary, axillary, rotundate or obovate. Petals pale violet, lilac or dove blue with darker longitudinal veins, white at base; upper ones bent backwards; lateral ones bent towards the lower one and directed forwards; lower petal spathulate. Fruit a capsule. Fl. V–VI (very soon after the snow thaw), fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction mainly by seeds, also vegetatively (by tuft fragmentation). Good seed germination capacity.
Habitats and populations. Subalpine and alpine habitats: in grassy places, beside Juniperus sibirica and Pinus mugo scrubs, on relatively deep soil. Grows solitary in grass communities.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (Northern – Vihren part), Rila Mts (above the monastery); 1700-2500 m alt. The species is reported for West Frontier Mts, Rhodopi Mts (W, C).
General distribution. The Pyrenees, the Alps, C Apennines, mountains of the Balkan Peninsula, the Caucasus.
Threats. Limited distribution of the species; low population density; intensive tourism (trampling, bouquet-picking, pollution); natural disasters; trampling and grazing by animals.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Species localities lie within Pirin National Park and Rilski Manastir Nature Park, as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Research on population size and distribution range, species biology and ecology, threats. Population monitoring. Preserving of seed material in the National Seed Genebank of Bulgaria.
References. Delipavlov 1979, 1984.
Author: Daniella Ivanova
