Scapania verrucosa
Scapania verrucosa Heeg
Scapaniaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)]. The species is listed in the Red Data Book of European Bryophytes as “Rare”.
Morphology and biology. Leafy liverwort forming green or yellowish green tufts. Stems 2–6 cm long, black below and reddish above. Leaves bilobed with lobes almost of the same size and folded together face to face. The lobes are toothed and the teeth commonly are 1-celled. Perianth mouth also toothed. The vegetative propagation is by means of 2-celled gemmae of variable shape, forming reddish brown groups on upper leaf apices.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow on moist siliceous rocks and avoid limestone. The species is characterized by low population density and low growth rate.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Western – the slopes of Midzhur peak, on moist rocks in beech forest in Barza Reka valley), Rila Mts (Banenska River valley).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria) and other parts of Europe (France, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Spain, Italy, Sicily and the Crimea), Caucasus, Siberia, Far East, W and E Asia, India, N and C Mexico. Sub-oceanic/subalpine species.
Threats. Damage of the forest habitats as a result of forest clearance causes changes in habitat humidity and light. The higher light intensity depresses species development.
Conservation measures taken. One of the localities is in an area recently proposed for protection – Western Balkan Nature Park. Both localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of changes in population size and changes in the habitats’ ecological conditions; development of action plans; legal protection of the species under the national Biological Diversity Act.
References. Petrov 1963; Kuc et al. 1965.
Author: Anna Ganeva
