Astragalus suberosus
Astragalus suberosus Banks & Sol. subsp. haarbachii (Boiss.) V.A. Matthews
Astragalus haarbachii Boiss.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN A2acd; B2ab(ii,iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Annual or perennial herbaceous plant. All vegetative and generative parts (except petals) are covered with patent hairs. Stems up to 50 cm high, erect or procumbent. Leaves imparipinnate. Leaflets in 8–12 pairs, elliptical, with subconcave apex. Raceme with 10–20 flowers. Peduncles equal to the leaves. Calyx reddish, corolla beige, flesh red to wine red. Legume 25–30 mm long, acute, falcate. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VI. Reproduction by vegetative means and seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on dry, stony slopes on shallow soil or on sandy places in open xerophytic herbaceous communities. Grows in groups of 50 to 100 individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast, Northeast Bulgaria, Balkan Range (eastern), Tundzha Hilly Country; 0–500 m alt. The species was reported in literature for the Danubian Plain but not confirmed later.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Romanian Dobrudzha, E Bulgaria, NE Greece, Turkey-in-Europe) and Turkey (NW part and S Anatolia).
Threats. Fragmentation and loss of the species habitat as a result of tourism development along the Black Sea coast; grazing and trampling by domestic animals.
Conservation measures taken. A significant part of the species localities are within the borders of Rusenski Lom and Shumensko Plato Nature Parks, Pobiti Kamani Protected Site and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Restriction of the construction activities in the species localities; detailed study of the area and number of individuals per population, biology and ecology of the species and threats.
References. Chamberlain & Matthews 1970; Chater 1968; Vălev 1976.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
