Astragalus Nitidiflorus

Astragalus nitidiflorus is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to Cartagena, southeast of Spain. It was refound after about 100 years of extinction and "the reappearance of this species has awakened the interest of environmental managers because the reasons for its critical situation are unknown". In 2004, a group of 46 specimens were discovered in a protected area between Cartagena and Mazarrón and plans for the conservation of this species have been implemented. ISSR markers helped to find that Astragalus nitidiflorus has a low genetic diversity. "This species grows in shallow soil from metamorphic and volcanic rocks in between mountain and cultivated areas".Astragalus nitidiflorus is arranged in five spatially separated populations with about two thousand specimens. To increase this plants population size a natural regeneration has to occur. Early in 2005 demographic studies about Astragalus nitidiflores identified roughly 69 adult plants".Its natural habitat is Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. This plant was first described in 1909, and was believed to be extinct. Most of the individuals are preserved in a protected area called "Cabezos del Pericón", a Site of Community Importance included in the Natura 2000 ecological network.

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