Barbilophozia kunzeana
Barbilophozia kunzeana (Huebener) Müll.Frib.
Jungermanniaceae
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU D2].
Morphology and biology. Slender leafy liverwort, forming lax yellowish green tufts or mixed with other bryophytes. Shoots 1.5–5.0 cm long, erect or ascending. Leaves nearly transversely inserted, patent, as wide as or wider than long, asymmetrical, bilobed, occasionally 3-lobed. Under-leaves small, deeply bilobed, with rhizoids at the base. Vegetative propagation is by means of yellowish green obtusely angular 1–2-celled gemmae. Unisexual.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow on moist soil often between peat mosses in peat bogs and mires, and along streams in higher mountain areas.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (Southern – Malko Spano Pole locality), Rila Mts (near Zavrachitsa chalet).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, Romania), W and C Europe, Scandinavia, N Russia. Boreal-montane species.
Threats. The peat bogs and mires are vulnerable habitats due to their tendency to dry up. Other threats are drainage and air pollution.
Conservation measures taken. The localities of the species are in protected areas – Rila National Park and Pirin National Park, and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. The monitoring and the assessment of the trends in habitat changes will make possible a prognosis for population development and undertaking measures for species conservation.
References. Petrov & Ganeva 1996.
Author: Anna Ganeva
