Brown Flapwort
Odontoschisma elongatum
Brown Flapwort (Odontoschisma elongatum) is a small leafy liverwort characterized by its distinctive brown to reddish-brown coloration and elongated, flattened shoots that form loose mats on substrate surfaces. This bryophyte plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and moisture retention in its specialized microhabitats, while also providing shelter for microscopic invertebrates.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Connor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Connor
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Jungermanniopsida
Order
Jungermanniales
Family
Cephaloziaceae
Genus
Odontoschisma
Brown Flapwort belongs to the family Cephaloziaceae, order Jungermanniales, within the Jungermanniopsida class.
Species Profile
Brown Flapwort (Odontoschisma elongatum) is a small leafy liverwort characterized by its distinctive brown to reddish-brown coloration and elongated, flattened shoots that form loose mats on substrate surfaces. This bryophyte plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and moisture retention in its specialized microhabitats, while also providing shelter for microscopic invertebrates.
Brown Flapwort faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss due to air pollution, acid rain, and climate change affecting the specialized bryophyte communities it depends on. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in moisture levels and atmospheric chemistry that alter the delicate balance of its epiphytic and terrestrial moss habitats.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Occupies humid temperate and boreal forests, growing as an epiphyte on tree bark and decaying wood, particularly on conifers and deciduous trees in areas with high atmospheric moisture. Also found on acidic soil, rocks, and peat in woodland clearings and bog margins.
Threats
Air pollution and acid rain
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Changes in host tree species composition
Habitat fragmentation and forest degradation
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 | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | 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). Brown Flapwort (Odontoschisma elongatum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/brown-flapwort