Sphagnum cuspidatum
Sphagnum cuspidatum Hoffm.
Sphagnaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial acrocarpous peat moss forming green or yellowish green to brownish green tufts, up to 15 cm high in terrestrial forms and often longer in aquatic forms. Stems erect, green. Branches at stem tip in crowded groups forming a “head”. Along stem the branches are in groups of 3–5. Stem leaves isosceles triangular, 1–2 mm long. Leaves of spreading branches narrowly lanceolate, 1.7–5.0 mm long, curved in one direction when dry. Sporophyte spherical, raised above the “head.” Unisexual.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow in areas deficient of nutrients and with high acidity, Sphagnum bogs, often floating in pools and bog hollows. Can be found as individual plants or mixed with other Sphagnum species.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Western – peat bog in Petrohan locality), Pirin Mts (Vasilashki lakes), Sredna Gora (Western – Lozenska Mt).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia), boreal zone of the North Hemisphere. Boreal species.
Threats. Drying up, and anthropogenic air and water pollution. The species is characterized by low potential for sexual reproduction.
Conservation measures taken. The locality in Pirin Mts is in the area of Pirin National Park. All localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. The population in Petrohan locality is included in a monitoring scheme under the National System for Monitoring of Biodiversity.
Conservation measures needed. Long-term study, assessment of trends in habitat changes, prognosis for populations development and based on these results, identification of appropriate conservation measures; legal protection of the species.
References. Petrov 1963; Šmarda 1970.
Author: Anna Ganeva
