Groenlandia densa
Groenlandia densa (L.) Fourr.
Potamogetonaceae – Pondweed family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR A1c; B2ab(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial plant with long, creeping, usually branched rhizome. Stem up to 30 cm long, up to 2 mm in diameter, with short internodes. Leaves 3 × 1.5 cm, with 35 veins, submerged, 2(3), close to each other, almost opposite, rounded at base, sessile. Spike 5–10 mm long, with few flowers, stalk 5–15 mm, after anthesis curved backwards. Fruit up to 3 mm long, rounded, with sharp dorsal keel, with 1 mm long, hook-shaped beak. Fl. VI–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduces by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Subpopulations with few individuals, strongly fragmented. Grows in shallow running and stagnant, fresh to brackish waters, small swamps, temporary fresh-water bodies.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast, Valley of Struma River, Toundzha Hilly Country.
General distribution. Europe, Mediterranean region, S Asia.
Threats. Draining of marshy areas for economic and other purposes.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Conservation of the species and its habitats; elaboration of an action plan and detailed study of the chorology, biology and ecology of the species, numerical strength and area of its subpopulations; long-term monitoring of the species and its habitats; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria. If proven necessary – proclamation of a protected area for the conservation of the species.
References. Jordanov 1963; Stoeva 1984.
Author: Dessislava Dimitrova
