Lathyrus grandiflorus
Lathyrus grandiflorus Sibth. & Sm.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial, herbaceous plant with a rhizome. Stems 35–150 cm long, not winged. Leaves paripinnate, ending with branched or simple tendrils, with one pair of elliptical to obovate leaflets, 7–50 mm long. Flowers large, 15–40 mm long, clustered by 1–4 in a lax racemes. Calyx with equal teeth. Petals purple to pink. Fruit linear, pale brown legume. Fl. IV–VI, fr. VII–IX. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in deciduous forests, rarely in open places above the timberline line. Populations are with low number of individuals and low density.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Znepole region (Mt Konyavska), West Frontier Mts (Mt Osogovo), Belasitsa Mt, Slavyanka Mt, Rila Mts; from 100 up to 1600 m alt.
General distribution. SE Europe, E Mediterranean, SW Asia.
Threats. Limited distribution and low reproductive potential of the species; destruction and pollution of the habitats due to logging and tourism.
Conservation measures taken. Populations of the species are within Rila National Park, Rilski Manastir Nature Park and Gabra Managed Nature Reserve (Osogovo Mt) and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species by the national Biodiversity Act. Sustainable management and conservation of the habitat of the species and monitoring of the populations. Preservation of seeds in the National Seed Genebank of Bulgaria.
References. Urumov 1906; Kozhuharov 1976, 1984; Pashaliev & Dimitrov 1995; Tosheva & Pavlova 2003.
Authors: Anita Tosheva, Boris Assyov & Cvetomir M. Denchev
