Campanula gelida

Taxobox | name = "Campanula gelida"


image_width = 258px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Rosopsida
ordo = Asterales
familia = Campanulaceae
genus = "Campanula"
species = "C. gelida"
binomial = "Campanula gelida"
binomial_authority = Kovanda [ cite web
title = Species Campanula gelida Kovanda
publisher = BioLib.cz
url = http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxonposition/id41201/
accessdate = 2007-12-25 ]

"Campanula gelida" ( _cs. zvonek jesenický, IPA2|'zvonɛk 'jɛsɛɲɪtskiː) is a stenoendemic, critically endangered species of perennial bellflower growing in the mountains of Hrubý Jeseník in the Czech Republic. It evolved through specialization of an isolated population of "Campanula scheuchzeri", an Alpine species, which expanded to the area of the Sudetes during a colder period, probably the last ice age. It is closely related to "Campanula bohemica", endemic to the Krkonoše Mountains. cite web
last = Rybka
first = Vlastik
coauthors =
title = Metodika monitoringu evropsky významného druhu - zvonek jesenický
language = Czech
work =
publisher = Agentura ochrany přírody a krajiny ČR
date = 2005
url = http://www.nature.cz/publik_syst2/files08/Metodika-Campanula-gelida.pdf
format = pdf
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-25 ] Sometimes it is even considered its subspecies and referred to as "Campanula bohemica" subsp. "gelida". [ cite web
title = Taxon profile - species Campanula gelida Kovanda
publisher = BioLib.cz
date =
url = http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id41201/
accessdate = 2007-12-26 ] They all belong to the group of related species "Campanula rotundifolia" agg. [ cite book
last = Fischer
first = M. A.
authorlink =
coauthors = W. Adler, K. Oswald
title = Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol
language = German
publisher = Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum Linz
date = 2005
location = Linz
pages =
isbn = 80-239-4177-1 ]

Location

The only known occurrence of "Campanula gelida" in its natural environment is at Peter's Stones in the Praděd nature reserve, at an altitude of 1,438 metres above mean sea level, where it has to resist low temperatures, wind and snow. It grows on the southern and eastern slopes of the highest rock of Peter's Stones and in nearby grass vegetation consisting mainly of fescue, within 10 metres of the foot of the rock. The location is not accessible to the public. cite book
last = Rybka
first = Vlastik
authorlink =
coauthors = Romana Rybková, Renata Pohlová
title = Rostliny ve svitu evropských hvězd
language = Czech
publisher = Sagittaria - Sdružení pro ochranu přírody střední Moravy
date = 2004
location = Olomouc, Praha
pages = 30
url = http://www.sagittaria.ecn.cz/NATURA2000-min.pdf
format = PDF
doi =
id =
isbn = 80-239-4177-1 ]

Description

"Campanula gelida" is very similar to its nearest relative "Campanula bohemica". Miloslav Kovanda, the first botanist who described "Campanula gelida" in 1968, later even reclassified it as its subspecies. Recently, most botanists consider it to be an independent species again.

"Campanula gelida" can be distinguished from "Campanula bohemica" especially by its rich tufts, and smaller flowers and capsules. Flowers often grow independently or in racemes consisting of not more than four flowers. Stem is not longer than 20 cm. Ground leaves, forming a rosette, stay until the plant wilts.

Growth and reproduction

"Campanula gelida" usually grows in small fissures of rocky, acid ground. It prefers sunlit places, but some plants grow in shadow too. The species reproduces mostly vegetatively, because its possibilities of generative reproduction are very limited by the climatic conditions of its location. Flowers are produced from the middle of July until the end of August. Similarly to other bellflowers, its gynoecium develops after pollen has been set free from stamens, which prevents self-pollination. cite web
last = Holub
first = Petr
title = Evropsky významné lokality v ČR - zvonek jesenický
language = Czech
work =
publisher = Agentura ochrany přírody a krajiny ČR
date =
url = http://stanoviste.natura2000.cz/index.php?page=rostlina_detail&RostlinaID=13
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-25 ]

Endangered species

Although "Campanula gelida" is critically endangered and was on the edge of extinction in the 1970s, at present the population of the species seems (despite their small number and limited area of occurrence) to have stabilized. Current threats include skiers trespassing in the protected area and expansion of other species including Tufted Hair-grass, Red Raspberry and "Hypericum maculatum".

"Campanula gelida" is on the list of particularly protected plants of the Czech Republic, and thus it is forbidden to be picked, dug or otherwise damaged or disturbed in its development. [ cite web
last = Hoskovec
first = Ladislav
title = Zvláště chráněné druhy rostlin České republiky
language = Czech
work =
publisher = Botany.cz
date = 2007-06-18
url = http://botany.cz/cs/chranene-rostliny/
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-25 ] It was also included into the Red List of Endangered Plants of the Czech Republic, category C1 (critically endangered), the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants, the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats [ cite web
last = Hoskovec
first = Ladislav
title = Nejvzácnější rostliny Evropy
language = Czech
work =
publisher = Botany.cz
date = 2007-07-19
url = http://botany.cz/cs/bernska-umluva/
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-25 ] and into the network of Natura 2000. [ cite web
last = Hoskovec
first = Ladislav
title = Rostliny chráněné v soustavě Natura 2000
language = Czech
work =
publisher = Botany.cz
date = 2007-08-28
url = http://botany.cz/cs/natura-2000/
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-25 ]

Employees from the Administration of the Jeseníky Protected Landscape Area cultivate the plants in Stará Ves near Rýmařov.

References