Dark-green Flapwort
Jungermannia atrovirens
Dark-green Flapwort (Jungermannia atrovirens) is a small leafy liverwort characterized by its distinctive dark green to blackish-green coloration and flattened, overlapping leaves arranged in two rows along prostrate stems. This bryophyte plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and soil stabilization in its specialized habitats, while also providing microhabitat for invertebrates and contributing to moisture retention in forest ecosystems.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Helen Waterman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Helen Waterman
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Jungermanniopsida
Order
Jungermanniales
Family
Jungermanniaceae
Genus
Jungermannia
Dark-green Flapwort belongs to the family Jungermanniaceae, order Jungermanniales, within the Jungermanniopsida class.
Species Profile
Dark-green Flapwort (Jungermannia atrovirens) is a small leafy liverwort characterized by its distinctive dark green to blackish-green coloration and flattened, overlapping leaves arranged in two rows along prostrate stems. This bryophyte plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and soil stabilization in its specialized habitats, while also providing microhabitat for invertebrates and contributing to moisture retention in forest ecosystems.
Dark-green Flapwort faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss of suitable bryophyte microhabitats due to air pollution, climate change, and human disturbance. This small liverwort is particularly vulnerable to changes in moisture levels and substrate quality that affect its specialized ecological niche. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but populations are declining in many areas due to environmental pressures.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Occupies moist, shaded environments including rotting logs, peaty soil, and rock crevices in deciduous and mixed woodlands, particularly in areas with high humidity and stable moisture conditions. Also found on stream banks, woodland paths, and other sheltered microsites with organic substrates.
Threats
Air pollution and acid deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Habitat fragmentation and urbanization
Loss of suitable substrate through forestry practices
Trampling and recreational disturbance
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). Dark-green Flapwort (Jungermannia atrovirens). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dark-green-flapwort