Bog Apple-moss
Philonotis marchica
Bog Apple-moss (Philonotis marchica) is a distinctive bryophyte species characterized by its apple-green coloration and compact, cushion-like growth form. This moss plays a crucial ecological role in wetland ecosystems by helping to stabilize soil, retain moisture, and provide microhabitat for invertebrates and other small organisms.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Alex Graeff, all rights reserved, uploaded by Alex Graeff
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Bryophyta
Class
Bryopsida
Order
Bartramiales
Family
Bartramiaceae
Genus
Philonotis
Bog Apple-moss belongs to the family Bartramiaceae, order Bartramiales, within the Bryopsida class.
Species Profile
Bog Apple-moss (Philonotis marchica) is a distinctive bryophyte species characterized by its apple-green coloration and compact, cushion-like growth form. This moss plays a crucial ecological role in wetland ecosystems by helping to stabilize soil, retain moisture, and provide microhabitat for invertebrates and other small organisms.
Bog Apple-moss faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to drainage of wetlands, peat extraction, and agricultural conversion of bog ecosystems. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that can dry out the specialized wetland habitats this species requires.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Bog Apple-moss occurs in acidic wetland environments including sphagnum bogs, fens, wet heathlands, and marshy areas with consistently moist, nutrient-poor soils. The species typically grows in open to semi-shaded conditions in these specialized bog ecosystems.
Threats
Peat extraction and mining
Wetland drainage and habitat conversion
Agricultural expansion into bog areas
Climate change and altered hydrology
Water pollution and eutrophication
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | ENEndangered | VUVulnerable | Higher local risk |
| EU | ENEndangered | VUVulnerable | Higher 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). Bog Apple-moss (Philonotis marchica). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/bog-apple-moss