Lens ervoides
Lens ervoides (Brign.) Grande
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(ii); Ca(i)].
Morphology and biology. Annual. Stem 10–30 cm, erect or ascending. Leaves paripinnate, up to 2 cm long, with a short tendril on the apex; leaflets 2–4 pairs; lower 8–10 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, obovate to elliptical; upper 10–12 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, narrowly elliptical, all acute, entire. Stipules even, lanceolate or almost sagittate. Flowers single, or 2 in a raceme, on long axillary peduncles. Calyx appressed hairy, teeth linear, 2–4 time as long as the tube, slightly shorter than the corolla. Standard 3–4 mm wide, obovate-elliptical, ± equal to the wings and the keel, light blue, with dark blue veins. Wings oblong-elliptical at base with elongated claw. Keel elliptical-rhombic, crescent, light blue. Legume rhombic, 8–9 mm long. Seeds purple brown, smooth. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VI. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. In dry, calcareous, stony places, on poor soils. Populations consist of solitary, scattered individuals in restricted areas. Being a Mediterranean geoelement and terrophyte, the species is not competitive in xerothermic, dense plant communities.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Strandzha Mts (above Malko Tarnovo, near Varovnik village, Vitanovo and Uzunbudzhak Strict Nature Reserves); up to 300 m alt.
General distribution. Mediterranean, SE Europe, Caucasus, SW Asia.
Threats. Grazing, very restricted distribution, small population sizes and low reproductive potential.
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. All localities are within Strandzha Nature Park and Vitanovo and Uzunbudzhak Strict Nature Reserves as well as in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the numerical strength and size of populations, habitat state; monitoring of populations; collection of seeds for storage in seed genebanks.
References. Kuzmanov 1976; Velev 1984; Gussev et al. 1997, 2004.
Author: Chavdar Gussev
