Lesser Clubmoss
Selaginella selaginoides
Selaginella selaginoides is a non-flowering plant of the spikemoss genus Selaginella with a wide distribution around the Northern Hemisphere. It resembles a moss in appearance but is a vascular plant belonging to the division Lycopodiophyta.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_selaginoides
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Lycopodiopsida
Order
Selaginellales
Family
Selaginellaceae
Genus
Selaginella
Lesser Clubmoss belongs to the family Selaginellaceae, order Selaginellales, within the Lycopodiopsida class.
Species Profile
Selaginella selaginoides is a non-flowering plant of the spikemoss genus Selaginella with a wide distribution around the Northern Hemisphere. It resembles a moss in appearance but is a vascular plant belonging to the division Lycopodiophyta. It has a number of common names including lesser clubmoss, club spikemoss, northern spikemoss, low spikemoss and prickly mountain-moss. This plant has one close relative, Selaginella deflexa, native to Hawaii. These two plants form a small clade that is sister to all other Selaginella species.
Lesser Clubmoss is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation from agricultural intensification, drainage of wetlands, and changes in land management practices. Climate change and altered hydrological regimes are also contributing to population declines by affecting the moist conditions this species requires.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
About 1600 metres above sea-level, Rax, [[Austria]] It has a near-circumpolar distribution in the northern hemisphere, including northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America including Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. In Europe it occurs south to the Pyrenees, Apennines and Caucasus. In Asia it reaches Japan while in North America it occurs south as far as Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Lesser Clubmoss is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation from agricultural intensification, drainage of wetlands, and changes in land management practices. Climate change and altered hydrological regimes are also contributing to population declines by affecting the moist conditions this species requires.
Agricultural intensification and land conversion
Wetland drainage and habitat modification
Changes in traditional land management practices
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Habitat fragmentation
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). Lesser Clubmoss (Selaginella selaginoides). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lesser-clubmoss