Apera interrupta
Apera interrupta (L.) P. Beauv.
Poaceae – Grass family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Annual. Stem 10–30 cm high, single to several, erect, glabrous. Leaves filiform, 0.5–2 mm wide, scabrid. Panicle narrow, 3–10 cm wide, more or less interrupted below, dense above. Spikelets with 1 flower. Glumes 2–3 mm long, subequal, narrowly lanceolate, acute, exceeding the flowers, subglabrous. Lemma up to 2 mm long, ovate, scabridulous, awn scabrid, 6–10 mm long. Caryopsis ellipsoid. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in dry, stony, shallow soils as well as on sandy ground in open, herbaceous communities or in degraded herbaceous phytocoenoses. The populations are with low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Slavyanka Mt, Rhodopi Mts (eastern – eastwards from Golyamo Kamenyane village, Krumovgrad district and northwards from Fotinovo village, Kardzhali district); 200–1500 m alt. The species is reported in the literature also for the northern Black Sea coast.
General distribution. Europe, NW Africa, Caucasus, C and W Asia.
Threats. Grazing and trampling by domestic animals; fragmentation and loss of the habitat as a result of ploughing; natural and anthropogenic fires; restricted distribution.
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. Part of the localities are within the borders of Alibotush Strict Nature Reserve in Slavyanka Mt and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Proclamation of Eastern Rhodopi Mts as protected area; search for new localities of the species in similar habitats; study of the numerical strength and area of the populations, biology and ecology of the species, and the threats.
References. Dogan 1985; Pavlova & Dimitrov 2003.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
