Neckera pumila
Neckera pumila Hedw.
Neckeraceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial pleurocarpous moss. Tufts light green to dark green, flat. Stems 3–10 cm long, curved upwards in upper part. Stem leaves with short double nerve, transversely undulate (wavy), ovate in upper part tapering to long point, with small dense teeth. One leaf margin incurved. Short thread-like branches with minute leaves sometimes present. Sporophytes ellipsoid, on 2–4 mm long stalk. Sporophytes and spores occasional due to the difficulties in sexual reproduction. Unisexual.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow at old tree bases, rarely on shaded calcareous rocks. One of the populations in Bulgaria was found on fir bark, the other in rock crevices in pine forest.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (Western – near the town of Teshel and in Dospatska River valley).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania), C Europe, Canary Islands, Madeira. Northern sub-oceanic species.
Threats. Decline of habitat conditions in forests after logging. Building activities, air pollution. The species is characterized by slow growth rate and limited dispersal by spores.
Conservation measures taken. The localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Long-term study, assessment of trends in habitat changes, prognosis for population development and based on this identification of conservation measures.
References. Petrov 1963.
Author: Anna Ganeva
