Brachythecium geheebii
Brachythecium geheebii Milde
Brachytheciaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)]. Included in the Red Data Book of European bryophytes as ‘Rare’.
Morphology and biology. Perennial pleurocarpous moss forming yellow to golden green mats. Shoots prostrate, to 5–10 cm long, densely and almost regularly pinnately branched, leaves arranged spirally. Stem leaves ca. 3 times longer than wide, appressed to the stem, oval triangular to oval lanceolate, gradually tapering, shortly decurrent, longitudinally plicate, margin entire or unclearly denticulate towards the tip. Nerve strong, reaching 3/4 of leaf length. Unisexual, rarely with sporophytes.
Habitats and populations. Grows on rocks and stones in shaded forests. The populations have restricted distribution and low density. The species has restricted reproductive potential.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Western – Vitinya, and Zanozhene village), Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt – below Reznyovete peak).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, Croatia, R Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia), C and W Europe, Caucasus. Sub-continental mountain species.
Threats. Major negative factor is habitat disturbance due to forest felling and windfalls. The small number of populations makes the species sensitive to stochastic processes. The species has restricted reproductive potential.
Conservation measures taken. The population in Vitosha Mt is within the Vitosha Nature Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. To study the dynamics of numbers and areas of the populations, as well as the biology and ecology of the species in Bulgaria, to elucidate the threatening factors and monitor the populations.
References. Podpéra 1911; Mickiewicz et al. 1966.
Author: Rayna Natcheva
