Hippuris vulgaris
Hippuris vulgaris L.
Hippuridaceae – Mare’s-tail family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR A1c; B2ab(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Aquatic perennial with creeping rhizome from which arise erect leafy shoots (4)30–60(150) cm. Leaves 6–12 × 0.5–35 cm, in whorls, entire, acute, glabrous; submerged leaves linear-lanceolate, soft, light green; leaves above water short, linear, dark green. Flowers single, axillary, mostly hermaphrodite. Brown nut, 2.5–3 mm long, ovoid, smooth, truncate at apex. Fl. V–VII, fr. VII–VIII. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. The species forms almost pure covers on small areas in marshy places with stagnant or slowly running waters, small water bodies and swamps in lowlands.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (North – near Shabla town). Reported for Forebalkan, Znepole Region; from 0 up to 300 m alt.
General distribution. Europe, SW and C Asia, Japan-China area, N America, N Africa.
Threats. Draining of marshy areas for economic and other purposes.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. The locality at Shabla lake is within a site of the European ecological network NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. 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 habitat; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Jordanov & Andreev 1979; Kochev 1984.
Author: Dessislava Dimitrova
