Trifolium phleoides
Trifolium phleoides Willd.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ac(i,ii)].
Morphology and biology. Annual herb. Stems single or several, 15–30 cm high, erect. Stipules oblanceolate, with a subulate apex, unauriculate at the base. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets 6–25 mm long, 1.5–5.5 mm wide, narrowly elliptical to linear obovate. Flowers zygomorphic ebracteate, heads ovate or conical, cylindrical in fruiting stage. Calyx 3–4 mm long, more or less inflated in the mature fruit, pubescent, with triangular-lanceolate teeth, 2–3 times shorter than the calyx tube. Corolla pale pink, equal or shorter than the calyx. Fruit ovate legume, 1(2)-seeded, included in the calyx. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VIII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grassy places, meadows in openings of Scotch pine plantations, on calcareous bedrock.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Sofia Region (Lyulin Mt, Malo Malovo, Ponor, Vasilovtsi villages); up to 1000 m alt.
General distribution. Mediterranean, Caucasus, SW Asia (Asia Minor), NW Africa.
Threats. Forestry and agricultural activities (afforestation, mowing), grazing.
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. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Collected and deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Coombe 1968; Zohary 1970; Kozhuharov 1976, 1984.
Author: Ana Petrova
