Astragalus dasyanthus
Astragalus dasyanthus Pall.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR A4c; B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv); C1]. IUCN(R), BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, with stout rhizome. Stem 16–30 cm high, ascending, branched, rusty pubescent. Leaves 8–25 cm long, imparipinnate, shortly petiolate, with long, yellow-brown hairs. Leaflets in 16–18 pairs, elliptical to lanceolate, sericeous. Inflorescences globose, dense, with 10–20 flowers. Flowers light yellow, with narrow, lanceolate stipules. Legume elliptical, densely pubescent. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Pollinated by insects. Reproduction mostly by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in xerothermic, herbaceous communities, dominated mainly by Chrysopogon gryllus. The two populations (near Boboshevo, Kyustendil district and Riben village, Pleven district) comprise many individuals but cover relatively small areas.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Danubian Plain (Riben village, Pleven district; possibly near Bregare village, Pleven district and the towns of Oryahovo, Kozlodui and Byala Slatina), Valley of Struma River (Northern – the town of Boboshevo); up to 200 m alt. The localities in Rhodopi Mts (Central – near Krichim) and Thracian Lowland (Kaloyanovo village, Plovdiv district) have not been confirmed since 1915. The species has been erroneously reported from Northern Black Sea Coast and Northeast Bulgaria
General distribution. Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, SW Russia.
Threats. Ploughing of steppe communities, grazing, urbanization. All populations of the species in Bulgaria are fragmented.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the national Biodiversity Act. Included in 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants with a category “rare”. The locality in the Danubian Plain is in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. An Action plan for conservation of the species is in a process of elaboration.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the number of individuals and area of the populations; species ecology; threats. Collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Sadovo. Proclamation of the localities near Boboshevo town and Riben village as protected areas.
References. Davidov 1903; Davidov 1905b; Urumov 1929, 1935a; Panov & Panova 1973; Valev 1976; Walter & Gillet 1998.
Author: Rossen Tzonev
