Blunt-leaved Earwort
Diplophyllum obtusifolium
Blunt-leaved Earwort is a small, leafy liverwort characterized by its distinctive blunt-tipped, two-lobed leaves that give the species its common name. This bryophyte forms low-growing mats or patches on acidic substrates, playing an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates in specialized ecosystems.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Christian Berg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christian Berg
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Jungermanniopsida
Order
Jungermanniales
Family
Scapaniaceae
Genus
Diplophyllum
Blunt-leaved Earwort belongs to the family Scapaniaceae, order Jungermanniales, within the Jungermanniopsida class.
Species Profile
Blunt-leaved Earwort is a small, leafy liverwort characterized by its distinctive blunt-tipped, two-lobed leaves that give the species its common name. This bryophyte forms low-growing mats or patches on acidic substrates, playing an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates in specialized ecosystems.
Blunt-leaved Earwort faces severe threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification, urbanization, and changes in land management practices. The species is extremely sensitive to environmental changes and pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition from agricultural runoff and atmospheric sources. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that affect the delicate moisture balance required by this bryophyte.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Blunt-leaved Earwort grows on acidic rock surfaces, particularly sandstone outcrops, cliff faces, and rocky banks in upland areas. It requires consistently moist conditions and is typically found in sheltered locations with stable microclimates, often in association with other specialized bryophyte communities.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Blunt-leaved Earwort faces severe threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification, urbanization, and changes in land management practices. The species is extremely sensitive to environmental changes and pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition from agricultural runoff and atmospheric sources. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that affect the delicate moisture balance required by this bryophyte.
Habitat loss and fragmentation from agricultural intensification
Nitrogen deposition and eutrophication
Urbanization and development pressure
Changes in traditional land management practices
Climate change and altered moisture regimes
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Blunt-leaved Earwort (Diplophyllum obtusifolium). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/blunt-leaved-earwort