Hamatocaulis vernicosus
Hamatocaulis vernicosus (Mitt.) Hedenäs
Campyliaceae
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU D2]. BDA, BC, HD.
Morphology and biology. Robust pleurocarpous moss forming glossy pale green to brownish mats. Shoots prostrate or ascending, 8–30 cm long, pinnately branched, with hooked-curved tips. Leaves longitudinally plicate, lanceolate, hooked or curved, margin entire. Nerve single, ending below leaf apex, yellow. Unisexual, rarely with sporophytes. Spore capsule inclined, cylindrical, curved, borne on long seta.
Habitats and populations. Grows in water-logged depressions or submerged in fens and along streams. Moderately minerotrophic. The populations have restricted distribution and good density. The species has restricted reproductive potential.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Central – locality of Panitsite above town of Kalofer, and above Anton village), Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt), Pirin Mts (close to town Bansko), Rila Mts (above Borovets), Sredna Gora Mts (Central – locality of Belya Kamuk above Koprivstitsa).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula, W, C and N Europe, Siberia, E Asia, N Africa, N and C America. Boreal species.
Threats. Major factor is habitat degradation due to pollution, eutrophication, drainage and climate aridisation, which leads to overgrowing of wetlands by competitive higher plants.
Conservation measures taken. The localities are within Vitosha Nature Park Rila and Central Balkan National Parks as well as in site 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 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 establish a protected area in the region of the locality of Belya Kamuk in Sredna Gora Mt.
References. Podpéra 1911; Mickiewicz et al. 1966.
Author: Rayna Natcheva
