Cicer montbretii
Cicer montbretii Jaub. & Spach
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2a(i,ii)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant. Stem 20–40(50) cm. Leaves imparipinnate, leaflets 13–17, elliptical to elliptical-ovate, rounded at base, obtuse, sharply dentate serrate, on both sides glandular. Stipules ovate, densely glandular, deeply dentate. Flowers pedunculate, 2–5, rarely single, in loose axilary cymes. Calyx campanulate, gladular. Corolla 25–28 mm long. Standard ovate, incised at apex, white, glabrous, longer than the wings and the keel. Wing ovate-elliptical, white, glabrous, keel white with violet spot. Legume up to 2.5 cm long, oblong-rhombic, brown, glandular, with 3–4 seeds. Seeds globose, brown to black. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. In stony, dry meadows, margins of oak forests and on eroded slopes along roads. Subpopulations consist of solitary individuals or small groups on very restricted area, ca. 10–20 m2. Seeds are formed but the expansion of the population area is hindered by the competition of tuft-forming grasses.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (southern – Maslen Nos locality, near Ahtopol, Silistar locality), Strandzha Mts (along the road to Papia peak, the road Brodilovo village – Kosti village, Marzevski Dol locality near Kondolovo village, Gramatikovo village, between Izgrev and Balgari villages, Urgarski Dol locality in Silkosiya Strict Nature Reserve, Petrov Dol locality near Kosti village; Bardousto and Daskalski Dol localities near Malko Tarnovo; Uzunbudzhak Strict Nature Reserve); up to 300 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey-in-Europe), SW Asia (Asia Minor).
Threats. Economic activities (stock breeding, afforestation, timber production); restricted distribution and small populations.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Populations are within the borders of Ropotamo and Uzunbudzhak Strict Nature Reserves, Strandzha Nature Park, Silistar Protected Site and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the numerical strength and size of the populations, monitoring and collection of seeds for storage in seed genebanks.
References. Kuzmanov 1976; Velev 1984; Gussev et al. 2004.
Author: Chavdar Gussev
