Common Kettlewort
Blasia pusilla
Blasia pusilla is the only species in the liverwort genus Blasia. This species establishes a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc, which are housed in special cavities, called auricles, occurring on the ventral (underside) surface of the thallus.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasia
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Marchantiopsida
Order
Blasiales
Family
Blasiaceae
Genus
Blasia
Common Kettlewort belongs to the family Blasiaceae, order Blasiales, within the Marchantiopsida class.
Species Profile
Blasia pusilla is the only species in the liverwort genus Blasia. This species establishes a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc, which are housed in special cavities, called auricles, occurring on the ventral (underside) surface of the thallus.
Common Kettlewort (Blasia pusilla) is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. The species is particularly vulnerable to drainage of wet areas, pollution, and changes in water chemistry that affect the bryophyte communities it depends on.
Key Facts
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Common Kettlewort (Blasia pusilla) is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. The species is particularly vulnerable to drainage of wet areas, pollution, and changes in water chemistry that affect the bryophyte communities it depends on.
Habitat loss through wetland drainage
Water pollution and eutrophication
Agricultural intensification
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Urban development pressure
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | 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). Common Kettlewort (Blasia pusilla). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-kettlewort