Inflated Notchwort
Gymnocolea inflata
Inflated Notchwort is a small, delicate liverwort characterized by its distinctive inflated, balloon-like leaf lobes that give the species its common name. This bryophyte forms small, pale green to yellowish patches on its substrate and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates in specialized wetland ecosystems.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnocolea
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Jungermanniopsida
Order
Jungermanniales
Family
Anastrophyllaceae
Genus
Gymnocolea
Inflated Notchwort belongs to the family Anastrophyllaceae, order Jungermanniales, within the Jungermanniopsida class.
Species Profile
Inflated Notchwort is a small, delicate liverwort characterized by its distinctive inflated, balloon-like leaf lobes that give the species its common name. This bryophyte forms small, pale green to yellowish patches on its substrate and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates in specialized wetland ecosystems.
Inflated Notchwort faces severe decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion, urban development, and drainage of wetland areas. Climate change and pollution further threaten the specialized microhabitats this bryophyte requires for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inflated Notchwort grows on wet, peaty soils and decaying organic matter in bogs, fens, and other acidic wetland environments. It typically occurs in areas with consistent moisture levels and low nutrient availability, often found along the edges of pools or in seepage areas within peatland systems.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Inflated Notchwort faces severe decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion, urban development, and drainage of wetland areas. Climate change and pollution further threaten the specialized microhabitats this bryophyte requires for survival.
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Wetland drainage and water table changes
Climate change altering moisture regimes
Pollution and eutrophication
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). Inflated Notchwort (Gymnocolea inflata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/inflated-notchwort