Tortula viridipila
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 Endangered | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT
Category
Non-vascular
Structural class
Mosses
Detailed description
Minute, calcicolous, light brownish-green colonial moss. Stems short, c. 3 mm tall with the leaves densely comose in bulbils, simple or branched. Leaves 2.5-3.0 mm long, imbricate and slightly twisted when dry, erecto-patent when moist; lamina with widened base, oblong-lanceolate, abruptly acuminate, aristate owing to the projecting nerve, concave, entire; margins recurved mid-leaf; nerve strong, slightly widened towards the apex, excurrent in a long, flexuose, green arista which is hyaline at its apex, scarcely denticulate, equal to 1/4 or 1/3 leaf length. Upper cells 13 microns wide, pellucid with firm walls, densely pluripapillose; marginal cells scarcely differentiated; basal cells for 1/4 to 1/3 of the leaf rather lax, shortly rectangular, thin-walled; those at the basal margin slightly narrower. Upper leaves wider, subspathulate. Seta c.10 mm long, red. Capsule c.1.75 mm long, elliptic, brown, glossy. Peristome red, teeth conjoined below in a very short membrane, irregularly filiform, occasionally joined above, oblique or suberect. Columnella exserted. Operculum obliquely rostellate. Calyptra long, tubular above, basally widely dilated. Spores 20 microns, muriculate.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, Kahurangi National Park (possibly elsewhere)
Substrate details
Terricolous alpine calcicole, favouring lime-enriched soil.
Threats
A local endemic, abundant within its few known habitats. However the areas occupied are small and they are suspected of being in decline so the species has recently been listed as “Nationally Endangered” (see Glenny et al. 2011).
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Desmatodon viridipilus (Dixon et Sainsbury) Sainsbury
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 Endangered | Qualifiers: DP
2010 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: DP
2005 | Range Restricted
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Glenny, D.; Fife, A.J.; Brownsey, P.J.; Renner, M.A.M.; Braggins, J.E.; Beever, J.E.; Hitchmough, R. 2011: Threatened and uncommon bryophytes of New Zealand (2010 Revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 49: 305-327.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange August 2007.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Tortula viridipila Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/tortula-viridipila/ (Date website was queried)