ORNITHOPUS PERPUSILLUS L. (Leguminosae - Papilionoideae) IN LITHUANIA

Abstract

Common birdsfoot serradella (Ornithopus perpusillus L.) was first reported in Lithuania in 1898, from a single site, Klaipeda harbor. In 2000 the species was found on the Curonian Spit near Nida, and in two more places almost in the centre of the country. The ecology, community structure, habitat characteristics and distribution of the species are discussed and described. O. perpusillus is here regarded as native in both the Curonian Spit and the Prienai district. These are disjunct localities to the east of the main distribution area of the species. Collected seeds from 2005 are multiplying in Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture for further investigation.