Hippocrepis unisiliquosa
Hippocrepis unisiliquosa L.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(v)].
Morphology and biology. Annual plant. Stems branched from the base, erect, ascending or prostrate, 10–30 cm. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate, with 3–7 pairs of leaflets; leaflets 4–7 × 2–3 mm. Flowers solitary, axillary, almost sessile, pale yellow, 4–7 mm. Legume 15–20 × 4–5 mm, straight or slightly curved, reddish, segmented; segments with a specific, horseshoe-shape. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VI. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Open, sunny dry grasslands, pastures, scrublands, mostly on stony limestone terrain. Populations are usually small in area of occupancy (less than 0.1 ha), spatial structure is uneven, with small spots. Visual observations of one population (over a 10-year period) detected fluctuations in the number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (near Emona village), Rhodopi Mts (eastern – vicinities around Ivailovgrad town), Thracian Lowland (south of Harmanli town); up to 300 m alt.
General distribution. Mediterranean area.
Threats. Limited distribution; afforestation of the localities with pines (Ivailovgrad area). Other, unknown negative factors may also take place.
Conservation measures taken. For protection of the habitats of the species the Biological Diversity Act requires establishment of protected areas in accordance with the regulations of the Protected Areas Act. One population is in Dupkata Protected Site close to Ivailovgrad. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Studies on the population status and their demography, including possible extreme fluctuations; research into the threatening factors; strict implementation of the legally envisaged management regimes in the protected areas.
References. Achtaroff 1932; Stojanoff 1932; Kozhuharov 1976; Petrova 2004; Bancheva & Delcheva 2006.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
