Current state of populations and resource assessment of Alchemilla species in Western Stara Planina and Western Sredna Gora Mountains in Bulgaria (original) (raw)

2016, Phytologia Balcanica: International Journal of Balkan Flora and Vegetation

The genus Alchemilla L. (Lady's Mantle) comprises 35 species in Bulgaria, 11 of them are Bulgarian and Balkan endemics. Herba Alchemillae is widely used in traditional and official medicine. In Bulgaria, the Alchemilla spp. are placed under a special regime of use by setting annual regional quotas according to the Bulgarian legalization. The main goal of the present study (2010–2012) was to record the distribution of Alchemilla species and determine their resources outside the protected areas in two floristic regions. Using the tracking method, 19 localities were found and studied in Western Stara Planina Mts and 12 in Mt Western Sredna Gora. The transect method was applied for resource assessment of nine economically used populations: five in the Western Stara Planina Mts and four in Mt Western Sredna Gora. Ecological characterization of the habitats, type of the plant community, and resource and operational stock of the species were established. A significant diversity of Alch...