Syntrichia latifolia
Syntrichia latifolia (Hartm.) Huebener
Pottiaceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial acrocarpous moss forming reddish green tufts. Stems up to 3 cm high. Leaves curved when dry, spreading when moist. Leaf point broadly rounded, often concave in the middle. Nerve ending below leaf tip. Sporophyte cylindrical, slightly curved, on high stalk. Vegetative reproduction is by means of spherical or elongated green or brown gemmae, produced on the upper surface of leaves. Unisexual.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow on old tree trunks and on exposed roots, very rarely on exposed rocks or gravely soil. The species prefers habitats with high air humidity.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Southern – mouth of River Veleka), Rhodopi Mts (Central – Bachkovo Monastery).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, R Macedonia), W and C Europe, Caucasus, North America. Temperate species.
Threats. Low air humidity as a result of logging, air pollution, drying up. The habitat (trunks of old trees) is vulnerable. The species is characterized by low potential for sexual reproduction.
Conservation measures taken. The localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Long-term study is necessary, as well as assessment of the trends in habitat changes, prognosis for population development and based on this identification of appropriate conservation measures.
Note. The species was recorded at mouth of River Veleka afterward the assessment of threat category and publication the Red list of Bulgarian Bryophytes. Probably there will be changes in threat category later on.
References. Stefanoff & Petrov 1962.
Author: Anna Ganeva
