Neckera pennata
Neckera pennata Hedw.
Neckeraceae
Conservation status. Vulnerabe [VU B2ab(iii)]. Included in the Red Data Book of European bryophytes as ‘Vulnerable’.
Morphology and biology. Perennial pleurocarpous moss forming yellow green tufts. Primary stems creeping and attached to the substrate, secondary shoots up to 6 cm long, hanging with ascending tips, irregularly, pinnately branched, complanate. Leaves transversely undulate, ovate lanceolate, gradually tapering to acute apex, slightly hooked, margin recurved on the one side, faintly denticulate to the apex. Nerve short, double or lacking. Bisexual. Spore capsule immersed in perichaetial leaves.
Habitats and populations. Epiphyte on bark of old trees (mainly beech with diameter more than 80 cm), rarely grows on rocks. Indicator of stable habitats in old forests. The populations have restricted distribution, low density and low growth rate.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Central – locality of Zavodna above the village Ribaritsa, and along the path between chalets Kozya stena and Eho). Reported for Western Balkan Range (possibly vanished), Rhodopi Mts (Western), Znepole region and Strandzha Mts.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula, Europe, Canary Islands, Madeira, Caucasus, Siberia, C Asia, China, Japan, Himalaya, S Africa, North America, Tasmania, New Zealand. Sub-boreal species.
Threats. Major negative factor is the loss of habitats due to clear felling and thinning of forests. The species is sensitive to lowering of air humidity and depends on the presence of stable habitats with old trees. Despite the frequent spore production, the sexual reproduction is difficult. The species has low reproductive potential and low growth rate.
Conservation measures taken. The populations in the Balkan Range (C) are within the Central Balkan National Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. To study the dynamics in 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.
References. Stefanoff & Petrov 1962; Petrov 1966b; ECCB 1995; Ganeva 1999.
Author: Rayna Natcheva
