Fragrant Crestwort
CR

Fragrant Crestwort

Lophocolea fragrans

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Photo: (c) George Greiff, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by George Greiff

Overview

Fragrant Crestwort (Lophocolea fragrans) is a small leafy liverwort distinguished by its distinctive aromatic scent when crushed and its characteristic crest-like leaf lobes that give the species its common name. This bryophyte forms delicate, pale green mats or patches on its substrate and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and moisture retention in specialized microhabitats.

Fragrant Crestwort (Lophocolea fragrans) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat degradation. This bryophyte species faces severe threats from human activities that alter its specialized microhabitat requirements, particularly in areas where it occurs on specific substrate types or in unique ecological niches.

Threat summary

Habitat

Fragrant Crestwort grows on decaying logs, tree bases, and humid rock crevices in old-growth and mature secondary forests, particularly favoring sites with consistent moisture and filtered light. The species requires stable microclimatic conditions with high humidity and protection from direct sunlight and wind exposure.

Other threatened species in Lophocoleaceae

Wedge FlapwortCR

Wedge Flapwort

Leptoscyphus cuneifolius

Unknown
EN

St Winifrid's Moss

Chiloscyphus polyanthos

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Fragrant Crestwort classified as Critically Endangered?
Fragrant Crestwort is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Fragrant Crestwort (Lophocolea fragrans) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat degradation. This bryophyte species faces severe threats from human activities that alter its specialized microhabitat requirements, particularly in areas where it occurs on specific substrate types or in unique ecological niches.
Where does Fragrant Crestwort live?
Fragrant Crestwort occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Fragrant Crestwort?
The main threats to Fragrant Crestwort are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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