Dicranum viride
Dicranum viride (Sull. & Lesq.) Lindb.
Dicranaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)]. BDA, HD, BC. Included in the Red Data Book of European bryophytes as ‘Vulnerable’.
Morphology and biology. Perennial acrocarpous moss forming dark green cushions, with rusty brown tomentum at base. Shoots erect, 1–4 cm high. Leaves spirally arranged, erect-patent, straight, long narrowly canal-like acuminate above the oval lanceolate base, margin entire. Leaf tip fragile, often missing in older leaves. Nerve ending in the leaf tip, smooth or weakly denticulate on the dorsal surface in the upper part. Unisexual, rarely with sporophytes. Reproduces vegetatively by means of leaf fragments.
Habitats and populations. Grows on bark of old broadleaf trees (mostly beech), rarely on conifers or rocks. Indicator of old forests. The populations have restricted distribution and low density.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Western – above village of Stakevtsi), Pirin Mts (by chalet Demyanitsa).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula, N and C America, NE and SW Asia, North America. Temperate (mountain) species.
Threats. Major factor is habitat destruction and degradation due to the decline of areas of old-growth forests. The species strongly depends upon the presence of stable habitats with high and constant air humidity. The small number of populations makes the species vulnerable to stochastic processes. The species has low dispersal capacity.
Conservation measures taken. The population in Pirin Mts is within Pirin National Park. All localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. The species and its habitats are protected according to the Bulgarian Biological Diversity Act.
Conservation measures needed. To study the dynamics of the numerical strength and area of the populations, as well as the biology and ecology of the species in Bulgaria, to elucidate the threatening factors and monitor the populations. To enlarge the area of Chouprene Biosphere reserve so as to include the population of the species in the Balkan Range.
References. Simon & Vajda 1959; Stefanoff & Petrov 1962.
Author: Rayna Natcheva
