Aeluropus littoralis
Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parl.
Poaceae – Grass family
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU A2c; B2ac(ii); C1].
Morphology and biology. Perennial herbaceous plant with creeping rhizome. Stems up to 40 cm high. Leaves in two rows, glaucous, glabrous. Ligule absent. Panicle spike-like or cylindrical. Spikelets glabrous, 10-flowered. Lemmas oblong to lanceolate, acute, 2 mm long, with 7 distinct and 2–4 obscure veins. Fl. VII, fr. VIII–IX. Wind pollination. Reproduction by seeds and rhizome shoots.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on wet, saline sands and clay soils along the sea coast, rivers, swamps and salt-pans. Populations with small area (ca. 0.1 ha) and good density. Participates in halophytic communities, together with Puccinellia distans, Limonium latifolium, Salicornia europaea, etc.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast (northern – Durankulak village; southern – Pomorie salt farms, Atanasovsko and Vaya lakes, Maslen Nos Cape); from 0 up to 50 m alt.
General distribution. Mediterranean region.
Threats. Destruction of salt-pans, draining of lakes and swamps along the Black Sea coast, building of hotels and roads; waste deposition.
Conservation measures taken. All populations of the species are within the borders of protected areas and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the eco-physiological requirements of the species; search for new localities in Toundzha Hilly Country (the region of Aitos, Karnobat, Yambol and Svilengrad).
References. Georgiev 1963; Stojanov et al. 1966; Bondev & Radenkova 1969; Kozhuharov 1984.
Author: Dimitar Dimitrov
