Hedysarum tauricum
Hedysarum tauricum Willd.
Fabaceae –Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iv); C2a(i)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial with woody rhizome. Stems 20–30 cm high, ascending or erect, branched almost from the base. Leaves with 6–8 pairs of leaflets, shorter than the inflorescence peduncle. Raceme with 6–12 flowers. Corolla 13–16 mm long, pink violet. Legume with short, appressed hairs, 5–10 mm long, 5–5.5 mm wide, gray green. Seeds 2.5 mm long, reniform, auburn. Fl. VI–VII, fl. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds, to a restricted degree by vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. The species occurs in a small number of localities with low numbers of individuals; populations are strongly fragmented. Grows mostly on dry, carbonate soil on stony slopes and eroded places, due to low competitiveness of the species. Its occurrences are subject to anthropogenic impact. The species is with low reproductive potential due to low germination rate and unfavourable germination conditions.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast, NE Bulgaria, Danubian Plain, Forebalkan; 0–100 m alt.
General distribution. SE Europe (Balkan Peninsula and Crimea).
Threats. Changes in land use, earth slides; erosion, low reproductive potential, low density, restricted distribution.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the state of the species populations.
References. Ganchev & Kochev 1961, 1963; Kozhuharov 1976; Nikolov et al. 1994; Petrova et al. 2007.
Author: Tenyo Meshinev
