Aegilops dichasians
Aegilops dichasians (Zhuk.) Humphries
Aegilops caudata L.3, Aegilops markgrafii (Greuter) K. Hammer2, 4
Poaceae – Grass family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ac(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Annual, tufted species. Stems several, 25–50 cm high. Leaves 1–2 mm broad, linear-lanceolate, hairy. Inflorescence 4–11 cm (excluding awns) cylindrical spike, with (3)4–7(9) spikelets, 2 of them vestigial; in maturity, spike falling entire. Glumes of lateral spikelets 9–10 mm, oblong, as long as rachis segments, asymmetrical, apex unequally 2-toothed. Uppermost spikelet with glumes tapering into a flattened divergent 4–10 cm long and 1–1.5 mm broad awn, somewhat longer than the rest of the spike. Lemmas nearly hidden by glumes, conspicuously toothed. Fruit compressed caryopsis with a ventral groove throughout its length. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Wind pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Dry grassy and rocky places. Forms small mosaic populations which represent the northern border of the species distribution area.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Thracian Lowland, Tundzha Hilly Country; 100 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, Greece, R Macedonia, Serbia), E Mediterranean (Crete), Carpathians, SW Asia (Asia Minor).
Threats. Limited distribution, habitats degradation (changed land management of agricultural areas).
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. Deposition of seeds in the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; protection of species habitats.
References. Vălev 1963; Humphries 1979; Tutin & Humphries 1980; Kozhuharov 1984, 1992a; Davis 1985; Delipavlov 2003.
Author: Ana Petrova
