Cryptogonium phyllogonioides
Common names
moss
Biostatus
Native
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, SO
Category
Non-vascular
Structural class
Mosses
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.
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
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
N.A. - spore producing
Fruiting
N.A. - spore producing
Other information
Previous 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.
2014 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR, SO
Referencing and citations
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange 1 July 2011.