PLANT AND HABITAT DIVERSITY OF THE RILSKO KORITO VALLEY

Abstract

A study has been conducted of the plant biodiversity of the vascular plants in the Rilsko Korito valley. As a result, there were established 81 families, 327 genera and 639 vascular plant species. The floristic analysis performed determined the floristic elements, biological type and floristic complex of the examined local flora. The performed research managed to establish 1 Bulgarian endemite Muscari vandasii Velen. and 16 Balcan endemites. Eight species with conservation statuses were confirmed: critically endangered (CR) -Dactylorhiza kalopissii subsp. macedonica (J. Holz. & Kunkele) Kreutz, endangered (EN) – Epipactis palustris (L.) Crantz, Ophrys apifera Huds., vulnerable (VU) -Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich., Orchis laxiflora Lam. subsp. palustris (Jacq.) Bornm. et Lay., data-deficient (DD) - Typha schuttlewortii Koch. et Sond., least concern (LC) - Fritillaria pontica Wahlenb. and Ficus carica L. There were also 189 medicinal species were also determined (33.7% of the total number of species).