Lilium rhodopeum – Critically Endangered (CR)
Lilium rhodopeum is a species from the family Liliaceae. It is endemic to southern part of the central Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria.
This species have 80-100 cm high stems, which bear linear-oblond leaves. The leaves are 6-14 cm long and are slightly silvery hairy on the beins beneath and on the margins. Flowers are up to 5 per stem, they are rarely born singly. The color of the flower is bright and radiant lemon-yellow. It has red anthers.
Lilium rhodopeum prefers high altitudes and montane climate with sub-mediterranean influences. Such weather conditions ensure a relatively mild winter with abundant snow and cool summer with an annual temperature of 8-10° C. with a rainfall of about 830-1000 mm. The species’ habitat is at c. 1300 m in open alpine meadows of grasses.
Main threats are collection for horticulture, tourism and infrastructure development.
Zelkova abelicea – Endangered (EN)
Zelkova abelicea is a species of the family Ulmaceae. Known as Cretan zelkova or abelitsia, it is endemic to the island of Crete, Greece.
The tree reaches up to 5 m in height. It is strongly branched and has a dense, crown shaped habit. The leaves are small and green with serrated edges. Their length is about 1,5 – 6 cm. The produced flowers are hermaphroditic. They are small and scented, allowing pollination by insects. This species is capable of suckering, a reproduction form which consists in the emergence of new shoots from an existing root system.
Zelkova abelicea has also shrubby dwarfed individuals. They are often with multiple stems, dense growth and leaves less than 2 cm. Dwarfism is mainly due to grazing and water stress. These smaller trees do not produce fruit, but studies show that they have a great longevity (more than 500 years) and often surpass in number the normally growing individuals in the populations.The biggest distribution area of the Zelkova abelicea is Levka Ori Mountains. The species prefers mixed stands and requires favorable soil composition and moisture.
Major threats for the existence of the species are urbanization (habitat loss), soil erosion, overgrazing, browsing through livestock, droughts and wildfires.
Saponaria jagelii – Critically Endangered (CR)
Saponaria jagelii is a species from the family Caryophyllaceae. It is endemic to the island of Elafonisos, Greece.
This plant has an erect robust long branching stem reaching 3 - 10 cm height. The stem is colored in dark red and is covered with scattered glandular hairs in the upper part. The leaves are fleshy and are colored in reddish-green. They are about 1 - 4.5 cm long and lanceolate. The upper leaf surface and leaf stalks can be hairy as well. The calyx is cylindrical and covered with glandular hair. The petals are red, but white and tapered towards the base.
Saponaria jagelii prefers the sandy sea-shores and sand dunes.
Major threats for the Saponaria jagelii are the tourism and recreational development on the island as well as human activities on the beach (i.e. driving motor vehicles and trampling).