Brachydontium trichodes
Brachydontium trichodes (F.Weber) Fürnr.
Seligeriaceae
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU D2]. The species is listed in Red Data Book of European Bryophytes as “Rare”.
Morphology and biology. Perennial acrocarpous moss forming dark green patches on rocks and stones. Stems up to 1 mm high. Leaves with entire margin and ovate basal part, above narrowed into long acute needle-like point composed mainly of nerve. Sporophyte erect, ovoid, with small ridges when dry, on 2–3 mm long yellow stalk. Bisexual.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow on rocks and stones in shady gorges in beech forest belts.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Central – the valley of Cherni Osam River above the Troyanski Monastery).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania) and other parts of Europe (UK, Ireland, Norway, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Poland, SW Russia), Caucasus, E Asia, North America. Sub-oceanic/montane species.
Threats. The limited number of localities and the dependency on shaded habitats with permanent air humidity make the species vulnerable in cases of condition changes and forestry activities (mainly forest clearance).
Conservation measures taken. Species locality is in the area of Central Balkan National Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Long-term study, assessment of trends in habitat changes and prognosis for population development.
References. Petrov 1966b; ECCB 1995.
Author: Anna Ganeva
