Trifolium squamosum
Trifolium squamosum L.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(i,ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Annual herb. Stems single, (10)20–30 cm long, patently hairy. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules adnate up to 1/3–1/2 of their length; leaflets (6)10–15(20) mm long, (4)7–9 mm wide, obovate-cuneate, patently hairy. Flowers with bracts, heads 8–15 mm long, ovate. Calyx 6–7 mm long, 10-veined, glabrescent, with unequal teeth. Corolla zygomorphic, pale pink, up to 1.5 times longer than the calyx. Fruit 1-seeded, ovate, included in the calyx legume. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Wet meadows in lowlands. Forms small in number of individuals populations with restricted area. The locality in Stara Zagora district is probably extinct and the one in Yambol district has not been confirmed after its discovery.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Thracian Lowland (Stara Zagora district), Tundzha Hilly Country (Yambol district); up to 500 m alt.
General distribution. W and SE Europe, Mediterranean, SW Asia, N Africa.
Threats. Strong anthropogenic pressure, agricultural activities (enlargement of the agricultural lands, mowing, grazing, etc.).
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.
Conservation measures needed. Targeted studies for discovery of new and confirmation of known localities; studies on the species’ biology (especially reproductive biology) and habitat characteristics; collection and deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Coombe 1968; Zohary 1970; Kozhuharov 1976, 1984.
Author: Ana Petrova
