Dwarf Bladder-moss
Physcomitrium sphaericum
Dwarf Bladder-moss is a tiny annual moss species characterized by its distinctive spherical capsules and small, delicate gametophytes that rarely exceed a few millimeters in height. This ephemeral moss plays a crucial role in pioneer plant communities, helping to stabilize soil and create microhabitats for other small organisms in disturbed environments.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) martina_poeltl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by martina_poeltl
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Bryophyta
Class
Bryopsida
Order
Funariales
Family
Funariaceae
Genus
Physcomitrium
Dwarf Bladder-moss belongs to the family Funariaceae, order Funariales, within the Bryopsida class.
Species Profile
Dwarf Bladder-moss is a tiny annual moss species characterized by its distinctive spherical capsules and small, delicate gametophytes that rarely exceed a few millimeters in height. This ephemeral moss plays a crucial role in pioneer plant communities, helping to stabilize soil and create microhabitats for other small organisms in disturbed environments.
Dwarf Bladder-moss (Physcomitrium sphaericum) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. The species requires specific hydrological conditions in temporary pools and wet depressions, which are increasingly threatened by agricultural intensification, urban development, and altered water regimes.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Dwarf Bladder-moss inhabits seasonally flooded areas such as the margins of temporary pools, ditches, and wet depressions in fields that dry out during summer months. It typically grows on bare, nutrient-rich clay or silty soils that experience regular cycles of inundation and desiccation.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Dwarf Bladder-moss (Physcomitrium sphaericum) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. The species requires specific hydrological conditions in temporary pools and wet depressions, which are increasingly threatened by agricultural intensification, urban development, and altered water regimes.
Altered hydrology and water management
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and land conversion
Climate change affecting seasonal water patterns
Trampling and disturbance of habitat
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | VUVulnerable | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | VUVulnerable | CRCritically Endangered | 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). Dwarf Bladder-moss (Physcomitrium sphaericum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dwarf-bladder-moss