Vulpia unilateralis
Vulpia unilateralis (L.) Stace
Nardurus tenuiflorus (Schrad.) Boiss.3
Poaceae – Grass family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Annual. Stem 5–30 cm high, erect, with scattered, short hairs. Leaves filiform, 0.5 mm wide, pubescent. Inflorescence secund, slightly arcuate spiciform raceme, 2–7 cm long. Spikelets with 3–5 fertile florets, 4–7 mm long (without the awns), peduncles from 0.5 to 1 mm long. Glumes narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent, persistent; upper one 3–5 mm long, lower 1.5–2 mm long. Lemma 3–5 mm long, densely pubescent, with a terminal, scabrid, 4–6 mm long awn. Caryopsis narrowly ellipsoid. Fl. IV–V, fr. V–VI. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs on dry sandy and stony, shallow soils or marly limestone (in Balchishka Tuzla locality) in open herbaceous communities of mainly annual species (Class Thero-Brachypodietea), in open oak forests and in destroyed herbaceous coenoses. Populations with low number of individuals.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Northern), Valley of Struma River (Southern), Slavyanka Mt, Pirin Mts (Southern), Thracian Lowland, Tundzha Hilly Country; 0–900 m alt.
General distribution. W Europe, Mediterranean area (Europe, Africa), Crimea, Caucasus, SW and C Asia.
Threats. Grazing and trampling by domestic animals; fragmentation and loss of habitats as a consequence of the establishment of permanent plantations, opening of quarries and the development of tourism along the Black Sea coast.
Conservation measures taken. Part of the localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Proclamation of protected sites for the localities near Kalimantsi village (Sandanski municipality) and Kulata village (Petrich municipality, Kartaletsa hill); detailed study of the areas and number of individuals of the populations, biology and ecology of the species, threats.
Note. The species is morphologically close to Micropyrum tenellum (L.) Link. The latter can be distinguished by the almost equal, broadly lanceolate, glumes and lack of hairs.
References. Bondev 1984; Stace 1985.
Author: Stoyan Stoyanov
