Poa pirinica
Poa pirinica Stoj. & Acht.
Poaceae –Grass family
Conservation status. Vulnerable [VU D1+2]. IUCN(R). Balkan endemic.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, herbaceous, laxly caespitose slender plant. Stems 5–20 cm high, erect or ascending, leafy. Leaves narrowly linear to filiform. Panicle up to 4 cm long, with very slender branches. Spikelets 3–4-flowered, green to purple, 5–6 mm long. Glumes almost equal. Lemma 3–3.5 mm long. Fruit a grain. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Wind pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in rocky and stony places in the subalpine and alpine belts. Participates in open herbaceous communities, on shallow soils or screes, on marble bedrock. Populations with 20–80 individuals, covering an area of 20–100 m2. The plants are mostly sheltered by large rocks and more rarely in rock crevices.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (northern); at 2100–2700 m alt.
General distribution. Bulgaria, Greece.
Threats. Restricted distribution; low numbers and small areas of occurrence; low reproductive potential due to the short vegetation season that prevents seeds from ripening; grazing (plants are soft and lush and animals like them); trampling and damage of plants by tourists.
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. It is included in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants (Walter & Gillett 1998) as “rare.” Its localities are within Pirin National Park and some of them are in Bayuvi Dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa Strict Nature Reserve. All localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Strict control on the implementation of the measures for the optimal development of the species envisaged in the management plan of Pirin National Plan.
References. Kitanov & Penev 1963; Stoeva 1984, 1986; Andreev 1989; Kozhuharov 1992b; Walter & Gillett 1998.
Author: Milka Stoeva
