Orthotrichum stellatum
Orthotrichum stellatum Brid.
Orthotrichaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial acrocarpous moss forming about 0.5 cm high yellowish green to olive green tufts. Leaves comparatively firm, elongated, 1.8–2.3 mm long, ending with blunt tip. Leaf margin entire, curved almost to the tip. Nerve ending close to the leaf point. Sporophyte ovate, entirely or almost entirely immersed in perichaetial leaves, gradually proceeds to short stalk. Eight wide orange nerves can be seen, becoming ridges when dry. Calyptra bell-shaped, short, without hairs. Vegetative propagation is by means of pale brown thread-like gemmae developing on leaf surface. Bisexual.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow on stems and branches of deciduous trees, rarely on fallen stems, in places with high air humidity.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt – above Bistritsa village), Rhodopi Mts (Central – the town of Shiroka Laka).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia), Europe, North America. Sub-Mediterranean species.
Threats. Worsening of habitat conditions in forests after logging, human settlement extensions, air pollution, decrease of air humidity. The species is characterized by slow growth rate.
Conservation measures taken. The locality in Vitosha Mt is in a site 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; legal protection of the species.
References. Podpéra 1911.
Author: Anna Ganeva
