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Cirsium decussatum Janka

Flora Europaea North Carpathian regional endemic, boreal belt Biennal, TH Vaccinio - Piceetea, Molinietalia, Betulo - Adenostyletea the typical habitats are not yet established             An endemic species from the northern Carpathians, of the Beskides, Tatra, Woody Carpathians and Maramures and Bucovina Mountains, south up to Suhard, Stanisoara and Rodna Mountains. According to more recent sources it grows sporadically southwards in the Oriental Carpathians of Romania up to Vrancea Mountains. The huge wooly capitula of this plant are striking and very showy. In  our opinion is quite rarely encountered. During a trip across the whole area of Maramures and Bucovina mountains in the summer of 2013 we found only two small populations along Bistrita valley not far from Carlibaba from where we take the pictures below. We know however that the species is frequent along the roads on the right slope of Vinului valley, in the southern part of Rodna Mountains. However, according to dr. Adrian Oprea (personal information) who has a large expertise upon the whole region,  this species is quite frequent in the entire area of the Oriental Carpathians, Between Suhard and Obcinele Bucovinei Mountains, along Bistrita valley, August 2013. dr. Alexandru Badarau, alexandru@transsilvanica.net