Macoun's cephalozia
Cephalozia macounii
Macoun's cephalozia is a tiny leafy liverwort with distinctive deeply-lobed leaves arranged in two rows along delicate stems. This diminutive bryophyte forms small patches or scattered shoots on decaying wood and plays an important role in forest microhabitat ecosystems by contributing to nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Jungermanniopsida
Order
Jungermanniales
Family
Cephaloziaceae
Genus
Cephalozia
Macoun's cephalozia belongs to the family Cephaloziaceae, order Jungermanniales, within the Jungermanniopsida class.
Species Profile
Macoun's cephalozia is a tiny leafy liverwort with distinctive deeply-lobed leaves arranged in two rows along delicate stems. This diminutive bryophyte forms small patches or scattered shoots on decaying wood and plays an important role in forest microhabitat ecosystems by contributing to nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates.
Macoun's cephalozia is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat disturbance. This tiny liverwort is known from only a few locations in North America, where it faces threats from human activities and environmental changes that can easily destroy its specialized microhabitat requirements.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Macoun's cephalozia grows exclusively on well-decayed logs and stumps in old-growth and mature coniferous forests, particularly favoring shaded, humid microsites. It requires consistently moist conditions and is typically found in undisturbed forest environments with stable temperature and humidity regimes.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Macoun's cephalozia is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat disturbance. This tiny liverwort is known from only a few locations in North America, where it faces threats from human activities and environmental changes that can easily destroy its specialized microhabitat requirements.
Extremely limited range and population size
Habitat destruction from human development
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Competition from invasive plant species
Trampling and disturbance from recreational activities
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
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). Macoun's cephalozia (Cephalozia macounii). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/macouns-cephalozia