Swertia perennis

Star Gentian

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Common names

Star Gentian.

Scientific name

Swertia perennis L.

Conservation status and threats

NOT protected species in Bulgaria.

The species is listed in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria to the category "Endangered"^[1].

Description and identification

Perennial herbaceous plant with a short rhizome. Stem 15–45 cm, erect, glabrous, often purplish at base, more or less 4-angled. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate to obovate, usually alternate; lower cauline petiolate, upper sessile. Flowers 5–15 (24), in racemose or paniculate inflorescences. Petals violet blue, very rarely yellow, acute at apex, spreading star-like in full blossom. Fruit a capsule. Flowering July-August^[2].

Habit

Grows in wet places by streams and bogs on siliceous bedrock. Populations are strongly fragmented. Subpopulations are variable in size, ranging from tens to several hundred individuals. Due to the specific and rare habitat, the population fragments are usually very isolated from each other^[3].

Distribution in Bulgaria

Between 1000 and 2900 meters above sea level in the mountains Vitosha, Pirin and Rila^[4].

References

[1] Vladimir Vladimirov. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[2] Vladimir Vladimirov. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[3] Vladimir Vladimirov. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[4] Assyov, B., A. Petrova, D. Dimitrov & R. Vassilev. 2012. Conspectus of the vascular flora of Bulgaria. Sofia, Bulgarian biodiversity foundation.

Swertia perennis на български

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