Vicia incisa
Vicia incisa M. Bieb.
Fabaceae – Pea family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1b(i,iii,iv)c(i,ii,iv)+2a(i,ii); D].
Morphology and biology. Annual. Stem 20–80 cm high. Leaves paripinnate with 3–5 pairs of leaflets, obcuneate or obcordate, these of lower and middle cauline leaves deeply incised-dentate on the edge, of the upper cauline leaves oblong or obovate, entire. Standard pale blue, pink or dark violet. Calyx teeth equal to the tube. Legume 3.7–4.2 cm long, 5–6 mm wide, smooth, brown to brown black, with 6–8 seeds. Seeds 3.5 mm long, 3.5–3.8 mm wide. Fl. V–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry grasslands or abandoned places, on serpentine rocks, shallow soil, in the lowlands and foothills, in the herbaceous layer of communities of Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis, Paliurus spina-christi, etc.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (southern – between Tzarevo, Kiten, Ahtopol and Sinemorets), Slavyanka Mt (Paril village), Rhodopi Mts (eastern – Meden Buk and Kazak villages, Ivailovgrad region), Strandzha Mts (Malko Tarnovo, Fazanovo and Balgari villages); 50 – 950 m alt.
General distribution. SE Europe, Caucasus, SW Asia.
Threats. Construction activities along the southern Black Sea coast, cutting of forests, grazing.
Conservation measures taken. Most of the localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species by the Biodiversity Act. Proclamation of protected areas to conserve species localities.
References. Terziiski 1984; Kuzmanov 1986; Delipavlov & Stoichev 1994.
Author: Dimitar Dimitrov
