Lesser Clubmoss
EN

Lesser Clubmoss

Selaginella selaginoides

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_selaginoides

Overview

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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...

Other threatened species in Selaginellaceae

CR

Selaginella microdendron

Unknown
CR

Selaginella cristalensis

Unknown
CR

Selaginella achotalensis

Unknown
CR

Selaginella orbiculifolia

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Lesser Clubmoss classified as Endangered?
Lesser Clubmoss is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. 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.
Where does Lesser Clubmoss live?
Lesser Clubmoss 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 Lesser Clubmoss?
The main threats to Lesser Clubmoss 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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