Lathyrus alpestris
Lathyrus alpestris (Waldst. & Kit.) Kit.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)]. Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, rhizomatous herb. Stems erect, 10–50 high, not winged or with narrow wings towards the apex. Leaves paripinnate, mucronate, with 2–4 pairs of lanceolate to elliptical leaflets, 20–50 mm long. Flowers clustered by 3–6 in lax racemes. Calyx with unequal teeth. Petals purple-red to blue violet. Legume linear, dark brown. Fl. V–VII, fr. VIII–IX. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in grassy places in alpine meadows and scrub with Juniperus sibirica in the montane and alpine belts. Population is fragmented, density varies from single plants to groups with considerable density.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha region (“Aleko” chalet, Reznyovete and Koupena peaks), from 1700 up to 2250 m alt. Reported also from Rila Mts (not confirmed since 1843) and erroneously from the Balkan Range (central) and Rodopi Mts (western, central).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, R Macedonia, Serbia).
Threats. Limited distribution, destruction and pollution of the habitats, due to intensive tourism and infrastructure development; collected as ornamental plant.
Conservation measures taken. Population is within Vitosha Nature Park, and small parts of it are situated in Bistrishko Branishte Strict Nature Reserve and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Sustainable management and conservation of the habitat of the species. Protection of the species by the national Biodiversity Act and monitoring of the species population.
References. Stojanov et al. 1967; Kozhuharov 1976; Tosheva & Pavlova 2003.
Authors: Anita Tosheva, Boris Assyov, Cvetomir M. Denchev
