Astragalus alopecurus
Astragalus alopecurus Pall.
Astragalus centralpinus Braun-Blanq.1, 3
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)]. BDA, HD, BC. Glacial relict.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial. Stems erect, up to 100 cm, densely hairy. Leaves 20–30 cm long, with 20–30 pairs of leaflets, imparipinnate. Inflorescence compact, ovoid, many-flowered, hairy. Corolla pale yellow. Fruit an ovoid-globose legume, 8 mm long, with dense white hairs. Seeds reniform, pale brown. Fl. VI–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in dry grassy and stony places by forests. Population is small and fragmented, occupying an area of less than 1 km2, with not more than 1000–1500 mature individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (western – Beglika locality). The occurrence of few individuals on Syutkya peak recorded in 1940 has not been confirmed since; 1500 m alt.
General distribution. C Europe (SW Alps), Bulgaria.
Threats. Major threat is the habitat degradation caused by afforestation, tourism, natural succession of plant communities, especially forest expansion.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the Bulgarian Biodiversity Act. The locality is situated within the borders of Beglika Strict Nature Reserve and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Elaboration of an action plan for species conservation; precise estimation of population size, area of distribution; studies on species biology and ecology, threats; assessment of habitat state; protection and maintenance of habitats and the distribution area.
References. Vălev 1976.
Author: Desislava Sopotlieva
