Blindiadelphus diminutus
Common names
moss
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Current conservation status
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2025 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, RR
Category
Non-vascular
Structural class
Mosses
Detailed description
Autoicous, extremely small, tufted, saxicolous, whitish-green moss. Stems less than 1 mm tall, fastigiate. Leaves suberect to spreading; lamina linear-lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate, concave; margin entire. Nerve failing below leaf apex. Upper cells punctiform. Perichaetial bracts erect, triangular, acute, almost 1/2 length of upper leaves, concave, with margin entire and nerve percurrent. Seta strongly falcate or cygneous. Capsule ovate or subglobose; mouth wide; peristome teeth 16.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: Castle Hill, Canterbury
Substrate details
Limestone and other calcareous rocks, usually colonising fallen rock and rubble near cliff faces.
Threats
Very vulnerable to competition from weeds, trampling by rock climbers and mining/quarrying for lime and limestone rock. There is some evidence that this species has declined markedly since rock climbing became more popular in the Castle Hill basin.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Grimmia diminuta R.Br.bis; Seligeria diminuta (R.Br.bis) Dixon, 1923
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Fruiting
Although fruit has been seen insufficient information exists to provide any details on the timing of fruiting.
Other information
Previous conservation statuses
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2014 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, RR
2010 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, RR
2005 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Fife, A.J. 2015: Seligeriaceae. In: Heenan, P.B.; Breitwieser, I.; Wilton, A.D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand - Mosses. Fascicle 24. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Vitt, D.H.; Bartlett, J.K. 1983: The genus Seligeria in New Zealand. Bryologist 86: 106-113.