Galilea mucronata
Galilea mucronata (L.) Parl.
Cyperaceae – Sedge family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial herb, rhizome creeping, with broad scales. Stem 20–50 cm high, triangular or nearly rounded, solitary. Leaves without ligules, basal revolute, sheaths bulbous. Bracteoles 3, with different length, longer than inflorescence, strongly enlarged at base. Inflorescence a dense, sessile, hemispherical to globose head. Spiklets in two rows, flowers numerous; glumes broadly lanceolate or ovate, obtuse but with a rigid mucro, reddish or purplish, the lowest sterile. Fruit trihedral nutlet, with persistent stigmas at the apex. Fl. V–IX, fr. VI–X.
Habitats and populations. The species has very limited distribution in Bulgaria. It occurs only in costal dunes at the Black Sea. The populations are strongly fragmented, consisting of small number of individuals and under very strong anthropogenic pressures (trampling) during the summer season.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast.
General distribution. Portugal, Mediterranean region, Balkan Peninsula, Canary Islands.
Threats. Destruction of the individuals as a result of active tourism, waste deposition, building activities, sand exploitation. Limited distribution of the populations.
Conservation measures taken. Some of the localities are within the borders of Ropotamo and Kamchia Strict Nature Reserves, Silistar and Pomoriisko Ezero Protected Sites as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Investigation of the biology, ecology and monitoring of the population state. Protection of the species by the national Biodiversity Act.
Notes. In the taxonomic literature this taxon is accepted as Cyperus capitatus Vand.
References. Markova 1964.
Authors: Dimitar Peev & Sonya Tsoneva
