Parapholis incurva
Parapholis incurva (L.) C.E. Hubb.
Pholiurus incurvus (L.) Schinz & Thell.3
Poaceae – Grass family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2b(ii,iii,iv)c(ii,iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Annual herbaceous plant. Stems 5–20 cm high, decumbent, growing in groups, glabrous. Leaves up to 2.5 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescence 1–10 cm long, usually strongly incurved, consisting of solitary, sessile spikelets. Spikelets with 1 floret, slightly imbricate. Glumes 2, equal, lanceolate, acute, 4–7 mm long, collateral. Lema and palea equal, tender, membranous, shorter than glumes. Caryopsis oblong-ellipsoid. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Self-pollinating plant. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on shallow sandy and stony soils, slightly saline soils, on the steep slopes by the sea, calcareous rocks by the sea and saline sand in open herbaceous communities. Populations are with low numbers of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast; 0–100 m alt.
General distribution. W Europe, Mediterranean area (Europe, Africa), Balkan Peninsula, Crimea, SW and C Asia.
Threats. Fragmentation and loss of habitats as a result of tourism development at the Black Sea coast; populations with low number of individuals; restricted distribution; adaptation to a specific, relatively rare habitat.
Conservation measures taken. For protection of the habitats of the species the Biological Diversity Act requires establishment of protected areas in accordance with the regulations of the Protected Areas Act. Part of the localities are within the borders of Yailata Protected Site near Kamen Bryag village, Pomoriysko Ezero Protected Site and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Expansion of the borders of Maslen Nos Nature Monument to protect part of the populations in the southern Black Sea coast; detailed study of the area and number of individuals per population, biology and ecology of the species and threats.
Note. The species is morphologically and ecologically very close to Hainardia cylindrica (Willd.) Greuter. The latter differs by the presence of 1 glume in each spikelet.
References. Stoeva 1984; Kit Tan 1985.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
