Club Pincushion Moss
Ulota coarctata
Club Pincushion Moss (Ulota coarctata) is a small epiphytic moss species that forms distinctive cushion-like tufts on tree bark, particularly favoring deciduous trees. The moss is characterized by its club-shaped capsules that contract strongly when dry, giving it its common name, and its leaves that curl tightly inward during dry conditions.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Christian Grenier, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Christian Grenier
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Bryophyta
Class
Bryopsida
Order
Orthotrichales
Family
Orthotrichaceae
Genus
Ulota
Club Pincushion Moss belongs to the family Orthotrichaceae, order Orthotrichales, within the Bryopsida class.
Species Profile
Club Pincushion Moss (Ulota coarctata) is a small epiphytic moss species that forms distinctive cushion-like tufts on tree bark, particularly favoring deciduous trees. The moss is characterized by its club-shaped capsules that contract strongly when dry, giving it its common name, and its leaves that curl tightly inward during dry conditions. As an epiphyte, it plays an important ecological role in forest ecosystems by contributing to biodiversity, providing microhabitats for invertebrates, and participating in nutrient cycling.
Club Pincushion Moss faces significant threats from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds, which alter the chemical composition of its bark substrates and reduce population viability. Habitat loss through deforestation and urban development has fragmented populations, while climate change is shifting suitable habitat ranges and altering moisture regimes critical for this epiphytic species.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Epiphytic moss species found on the bark of deciduous trees, particularly in mature woodlands, parklands, and tree-lined areas in temperate regions. Requires specific bark chemistry and moisture conditions, typically growing on smooth-barked trees such as ash, elm, and fruit trees.
Threats
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Habitat fragmentation from deforestation
Climate change impacts on moisture regimes
Loss of suitable host trees
Urban development and land conversion
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
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
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). Club Pincushion Moss (Ulota coarctata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/club-pincushion-moss