Hladnikia pastinacifolia

Hladnikia pastinacifolia is a plant species of the Apiaceae family.[8] It is a monocarpic herbaceous perennial plant, which takes a few vegetation periods to develop into a flowering plant.[6] Individuals, which have erect flowering stem, can reach from 15 to 30 centimetres of height.[9] At first plant's leathery and glossy leaves are simple shaped and arranged into rosettes. Later on, as their area increases, leaves also change shape into lobate.[6][9] Hladnikia pastinacifolia resembles well known celery (Apium graveolens), but has thicker foliage and shorter leaf stems.[4] Species' root is long and lignified. The plant's flower has white, heart-shaped and 1 mm long petals.[9]

Not much is known about the plant's exact breeding system. This plant species is entomophilous and has multiple different pollinators. It is thought that outcrossing happens occasionally.[6] The species flowering period is between Mai and July.[4] After successful pollination seeds that don't have any special dispersal adaptation develop between the end of August and into September. Fruit is a schizocarp, which after maturing splits into two 4 mm sized mericarps,[6] 2 mm wide.[9]

Hladnikia pastinacifolia chromosome number is 2n = 22.[9]

The plant is a Slovenian paleoendemic species restricted to small area (4 km²) in Trnovski gozd. There these plants grow only on southern slopes of the plateau and two isolated areas located 9 km away on the northern slopes.[6] As the plant species is not a habitat specialist its growing areas are various; Hladnikia pastinacifolia was found on stony grasslands, rock crevices and screes. Laboratory molecular analyses have shown that Hladnikia pastinacifolia is a Pleistocene survivor in situ.[9]

Even though its population trend is labeled as stable by IUCN Red list, it has data deficient (DD) conservation status.[10][11] Among mentioned threats are human intrusions and disturbance (such as recreational activities) as well as natural system modifications.[11] The Trnovo Forest Plateau is listed as Natura 2000 site.[10][12] Because of its small area of distribution and different threats the species is studied for possible cryopreservation.[5][13][14]