Calypogeia sphagnicola
Calypogeia sphagnicola (Arnell & J. Perss.) Warnst. & Loeske
Calypogeiaceae
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU D2].
Morphology and biology. Perennial leafy liverwort forming green or pale yellowish green patches. Stems shiny when dry, 0.5–2 cm long, together with leaves up to 1.5–2 cm wide, simple or rarely branched. Leaves obliquely inserted, shorter than wide, overlapping, ovate to ovate triangular. Under-leaves orbicular, 1.2–2.5 times as wide as the stem, divided almost to the base, with obtuse lobes and occasionally with a small lateral tooth. Sporophytes at short ventral branches. Gemmae spherical to ovoid, 2-celled, yellow green. Bisexual.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow in peat bogs forming individual patches or mixed with other mire bryophytes.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt.), Pirin Mts (Northern – lower Kremenski lakes).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, R Macedonia, Romania), C Europe, N Asia, North and South America, Tasmania, New Zealand. Montane-arctic species.
Threats. Drying or mire degradation, air and soil pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Species localities are within areas of Pirin National Park and Vitosha Nature Park and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Long-term assessment of the trends in habitat changes and prognosis for population development.
References. Simon &Vajda 1963, Natcheva 2007.
Author: Anna Ganeva
