Determined according to the botanical keys provided by Fedorov and Kovanda in Tutin et al. (1976) as Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi (Steud.) Hayek, Prodr. FI.Penins. Balcan.2: 547 (1930) (C. expansa Friv., non J. H. Rudolph). This taxon is not accepted at the subspecies rank in The Euro+Med PlantBase (source: Castroviejo et al., 2010+).
Species variability:Campanula sparsa Friv. shows considerable morphological variation, with 3 subspecies described according to Fedorov and Kovanda in Tutin et al. (1976), all of which occur in the Osogovo region. Currently, only one subspecies: Campanula sparsa Friv. subsp. sparsa is accepted in The Euro+Med PlantBase (source: Castroviejo et al., 2010+).
Distinction between subspecies:
Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi (Steud.) = C. expansa Friv., non J. H. Rudolph: Diameter of corolla 30 – 35 mm, calyx teeth erecto-patent at anthesis.
Campanula sparsa Friv. subsp. sparsa: Diameter of corolla c. 25 mm, calyx teeth patent or somewhat deflexed at anthesis.
Campanula sparsa subsp. sphaerothrix (Griseb.) Hayek: Form with a comparatively smaller flowers – corolla 12 to 16 mm, calyx teeth patent to erecto-patent.
* intermediate forms occur between subsp. frivaldskyi and subsp. sparsa.
Lifeform: Annual; therophyte according to the Raunkiær system.
Distribution:Campanula sparsa Friv. is native from the Balkan Peninsula to Hungary according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).
Habitat: Clearings and edges of forests, grasslands.
Flowering period: Summer: JUN, JUL.
Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – habit. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – habit. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – upper part of plant with flowers. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – upper part of plant with flowers. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – flowers. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – flowers. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – flower. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – flower. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – side view of flower with calyx. The calyx teeth are erecto-patent at anthesis. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – side view of flower with calyx. The calyx teeth are erecto-patent at anthesis. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – side view of flower with calyx. The calyx teeth are erecto-patent at anthesis. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – side view of flower with calyx. The calyx teeth are erecto-patent at anthesis. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – stem and branches with leaves. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – lower part of stem with leaves. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – lower part of stem with leaves. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – lower part of stem with leaves. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – adaxial side of leaf. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – abaxial side of leaf. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – stem. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – flower size. Scale in cm/ mm. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Campanula sparsa subsp. frivaldskyi – flower size. Scale in cm/ mm. Osogovo – near lake “Gradche”, 10.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
References:
Campanula L. Fedorov, A. A. (spp. 1-104) and Kovanda, M. (spp. 105-143) in Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M. & Webb, D.A. (1976). Flora Europaea. Volume 4: Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 74-93.
Campanula sparsa. Castroviejo, S., Aldasoro, J. J. & Alarcón, M.; with contributions from Hand, R. (2010+): Campanulaceae. – In: Euro+Med Plantbase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published on the Internet https://europlusmed.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/bdf78ebb-87fe-4eee-b043-04dd1abb57d8 [Accessed 04.08.2023].
