Asplenium lepidum
Asplenium lepidum C. Presl
Aspleniaceae – Spleenworts family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii); C2a(ii); D]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb with a short-creeping rhizome. Leaves in dense tufts, 2–10 cm long; petiole almost as long as the blade, dark purplish-brown at base only, green above; leaf-blade thin, delicate, densely glandular, triangular-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2–3-pinnate. Ultimate segments with cuneate base and rotundate, crenately incised apex. Indusium membranous, persistent, linear-oblong, attached laterally; margin with long filiform projections. Reproduction by spores. Spores ripening VII–IX.
Habitats and populations. In wet fissures or niches, on vertical limestone shaded or semi-shaded rocks. Only one population has been confirmed so far. Individuals are not numerous, with low density, occupying a rather small area.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Forebalkan (Western – Vrachanska Mt: Lakatnik railway station and near St. Ivan Pousti Monastery); up to 500 m alt. The locality near Lakatnik has not been confirmed since 1926. The species has been reported from Danubian Plain (Mouselievo village), most probably erroneously.
General distribution. SE and SC Europe (French Alps, E Alps – in NE Italy and Austria, the Apennines, Sicily, Hungary, the Carpathians in Romania, Dinaric Alps in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Greece, Crete, Bulgaria), extending locally westwards to NE Spain.
Threats. Climate aridisation; limited distribution and low density of the individuals; destruction of the rocks; clearing of the forests; recreation and tourism; natural fires.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. The locality near St. Ivan Pousti Monastery is within the borders of Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, as well as in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Research on the species biology, ecology, and threats. Elaboration of an action plan for the protection of the species. Population monitoring. Preserving of genetic material in genome resource banks.
References. Achtarov & Jordanov 1963; Velev 1984; Valentine & Moore 1993; Pavlova 2006.
Author: Daniella Ivanova
