Tortula canescens
Tortula canescens Mont.
Pottiaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)].
Morphology and biology. Perennial acrocarpous moss. Tufts flat, lax, yellowish green, with greyish white nuance when dry, 1–5 mm high. Stem with rhizoids at the base. Leaves longish ovate to spatula-shaped, with broad blunt or slightly concave point, and slightly recurved almost to the leaf tip. Nerve projecting beyond the leaf point forming smooth yellowish or colourless hair point. Sporophyte erect, narrowly cylindrical, brown. Bisexual.
Habitats and populations. Plants grow on sunlight-exposed rocks and rocky soils in low mountain regions and along the sea coast, forming tufts.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Northern – Zlatni Pyasatsi), Valley of Struma River (Southern – Kresna Gorge, in Juniperus excelsa community).
General distribution. Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Serbia) and C and S Europe, Canary Islands, Algeria, Caucasus. Sub-oceanic/Mediterranean species.
Threats. Infrastructure development, tourism, air pollution.
Conservation measures taken. The species locality may be within Zlatni Pyasatsi Nature Park but the exact location is not specified in the report. Both localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Long-term study, assessment of trends in habitat changes, prognosis for population development and based on this, recommendation of appropriate conservation measures.
References. Stefanoff & Petrov 1962.
Author: Anna Ganeva
