Medicago carstiensis
Medicago carstiensis Wulfen
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant. Stems up to 50 cm high, densely branched, glabrous. Leaves compound, leaflets 3, ovate, denticulate, glabrous above, with appressed simple hairs beneath. Raceme with 5–15 yellow flowers. Legume discoid, 5–8 mm in diameter, with 4–8 coils, with thin, patent, ca. 5 mm long prickles. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Reproduction by vegetative means and seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in shrubs or in beech-chestnut forests. Populations are fragmented with low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. West Frontier Mts (Osogovo Mt), Belasitsa Mt (above Belasitsa, Kolarovo and Samuilovo villages, Petrich district); 100–800 m alt.
General distribution. NE Italy, SE Austria and the western part of the Balkan Peninsula.
Threats. Isolation of populations: Bulgaria is in the periphery of the species area of distribution; deterioration of habitats as a result of forestry activities; grazing near urban areas; restricted distribution.
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 localities are within the borders of Belasitsa Nature Park and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Restriction of wood cutting in the known localities; detailed study of the areas and numbers of individuals per population, biology and ecology of the species and threats; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Kozhuharov 1976, 1984; Dimitrov 1998.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
