Stratiotes aloides
Stratiotes aloides L.
Hydrocharitaceae – Frog's-bit family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR A1c; B2ab(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Perennial, dioecious plants, submerged but rising to float on the water surface at anthesis. Stems short, stoloniferous. Leaves 50 × 2 cm, basal, sessile, linear-lanceolate, tapered to the apex, spinose-serrate, brittle. Petals 15–25 mm long, obovate-orbicular, white. Stamens 12, surrounded by staminodes. Ovary sessile within the spathe; styles 6, 2-fid, free. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Insect pollination above the water surface. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means. Seeds dispersed by wind.
Habitats and populations. Densely covers small areas in marshes and slow-running water bodies in lowlands.
Distribution in Bulgaria. NE Bulgaria, Danubian plain; from 0 up to 300 m alt.
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula, Fore-Caucasus, W Siberia.
Threats. Draining of marshes for economical and other purposes.
Conservation measures taken. The species and its habitats are protected by the Biodiversity Act. The locality in Srebarna lake is within the borders of Srebarna Managed Nature Reserve. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Elaboration of an action plan for the management of the species and its habitat is recommendable; detailed study of the species chorology, the density and size of its populations, its biology and ecology is necessary; long-term monitoring; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria. If necessary a new protected area can be proclaimed to protect the species and its habitat.
References. Jordanov 1963; Kochev 1984.
Author: Dessislava Dimitrova
