Species

Cryptogonium phyllogonioides

Common Name(s)

moss

Current Conservation Status

2009 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Qualifiers

2009 - OL, SO

Authority

Cryptogonium phyllogonioides (Sull.) Isov.

Family

Pterobryaceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Moss

Distribution

Indigenous. Kermadec Islands: Raoul Island. Widespread and common throughout the high islands of the tropical Pacific and also in New Guinea, Northern Australia, Indonesia and Malesia.

Habitat

Saxicolous on rock in ravines and also found growing with other mosses, lichens and liverworts on the upper branches of Kermadec pohutukawa (Metrosideros kermadecensis) on Raoul Island.

Flowering

N.A. - spore producing

Fruiting

N.A. - spore producing

Threats

Only known from two small populations on Raoul Island (Smith's Bluff and Sunshine Valley) where it was discovered during a five day survey of the south-eastern and western parts of that island undertaken as part of the Kermadec Biodiscovery 2011 Expedition to the Kermadecs during May 2011. A similar survey of the north and north-eastern parts of Raoul Island in May 2009 did not locate this species. Although it seems likely that this species is really a naturally uncommon species which is probably also its world southern limit on Raoul Island. The fact that this moss occupies an area of less than 1 square metre means it qualifies as Nationally Critical

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange 1 July 2011.


This page last updated on 9 Jan 2012