Lathyrus saxatilis
Lathyrus saxatilis (Vent.) Vis.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii,v)].
Morphology and biology. Annual. Stem unbranched or branched from the base, 10–15 cm. Leaves paripinnate, with 1–3 pairs of leaflets. Flowers solitary, 5–6 mm long, pale yellow or pale bluish. Legume 1.5–3 cm long, elliptic. Seeds 3–4, elliptic, smooth. Fl. IV, fr. V. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds, dispersed through zoochory or barochory.
Habitats and populations. Grows in dry grassy and stony places, on limestone bedrock in the xerothermic oak-forests belt. Most often member of herbaceous communities dominated by Dichantium ischaemum, Achyllea clypeolata, Inula aschersoniana, etc. Populations are fragmented and small.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Valley of Mesta River (Stargach Mt above Ilinden village, Gotse Delchev district), Thracian Lowland (Besaparski hills); at 200–500 m alt.
General distribution. Mediterranean area, Crimea.
Threats. Human activities in the species localities – overgrazing and trampling by livestock, afforestation, ploughing.
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. Part of the population on Besaparski hills is in Ognyanovo-Sinitevski Rid Protected Site. The localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Collection and depositions of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Delipavlov & Dimitrov 1973; Stanev 1976; Kožuharov 1976; Kozhuharov 1984.
Author: Stefan Stanev
