Dwarf Flapwort
Jungermannia pumila
Dwarf Flapwort (Jungermannia pumila) is a small leafy liverwort characterized by its diminutive size and distinctive flattened, overlapping leaves arranged in two rows along prostrate stems. This tiny bryophyte forms low-growing mats or patches on suitable substrates and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates in specialized environments.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Christian Berg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christian Berg
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Jungermanniopsida
Order
Jungermanniales
Family
Jungermanniaceae
Genus
Jungermannia
Dwarf Flapwort belongs to the family Jungermanniaceae, order Jungermanniales, within the Jungermanniopsida class.
Species Profile
Dwarf Flapwort (Jungermannia pumila) is a small leafy liverwort characterized by its diminutive size and distinctive flattened, overlapping leaves arranged in two rows along prostrate stems. This tiny bryophyte forms low-growing mats or patches on suitable substrates and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates in specialized environments.
Dwarf Flapwort faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss due to human activities affecting its specialized bryophyte communities. Climate change poses additional risks through altered moisture regimes and temperature patterns that disrupt the delicate microhabitat conditions this species requires. The species' small size and specific ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbances.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Dwarf Flapwort occurs in moist, shaded environments including damp soil banks, rotting logs, and humid rock crevices in deciduous and mixed woodlands. The species typically grows in acidic substrates with consistent moisture levels, often in association with other bryophytes in forest understory microhabitats.
Threats
Climate change impacts on moisture regimes
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Agricultural intensification
Pollution and eutrophication
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). Dwarf Flapwort (Jungermannia pumila). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dwarf-flapwort