Astragalus glaucus
Astragalus glaucus M. Bieb.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Semi-shrub, up to 30 cm high, annual branches 15–20 cm long. Leaves imparipinnate, with 3–6 pairs of elliptical leaflets, appressed hairy. Raceme dense, with 10–20 flowers. Peduncles erect or procumbent, twice as long as the leaves, densely appressed hairy. Calyx pubescent, corolla glabrous, whitish to cream yellow. Legume 10–15 mm long, with long bristles. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VII. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on shallow soil or on marl (near Balchik) in open xerophytic herbaceous communities. The populations in the locality Balchishka Tuzla amounts up to 3000 individuals. At Bolata bay and Durankulak lake the populations consist of less than hundred individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Northern – Pobiti Kamani locality, along the shore line from Balchik to Balgarevo village, around Durankulashko Lake), Danubian Plain (Tranchovitsa village, Pleven region); 0–200 m alt. The species is reported in literature for NE Bulgaria and Balkan Range (eastern).
General distribution. The area of Dobrudzha close to the Black Sea coast (Bulgaria and Romania), Moldova, Crimea.
Threats. Fragmentation and loss of habitat as a result of tourist development; grazing and trampling by domestic animals; erosion processes near Balchik; restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. Part of the population of the species is within Pobiti Kamani and Durankulashko Ezero Protected Sites. Most of the localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species by the national Biodiversity Act; regulation of construction activities in the localities of the species; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Chater 1968; Vălev 1976.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
