Rock Fingerwort
Lepidozia cupressina
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Jungermanniopsida
Order
Jungermanniales
Family
Lepidoziaceae
Genus
Lepidozia
Rock Fingerwort belongs to the family Lepidoziaceae, order Jungermanniales, within the Jungermanniopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Rock Fingerwort faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to quarrying, road construction, and urban development that directly impacts its specialized rocky substrates. Climate change poses additional risks through altered moisture regimes and temperature fluctuations that affect the delicate bryophyte communities this species depends upon. Its extremely limited distribution and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Rock Fingerwort occurs on acidic rock faces, cliff crevices, and boulder surfaces in humid montane and submontane environments, typically in areas with consistent moisture from seepage or high atmospheric humidity. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions on exposed or semi-shaded rock surfaces, often in association with other specialized bryophyte communities.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Rock Fingerwort faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to quarrying, road construction, and urban development that directly impacts its specialized rocky substrates. Climate change poses additional risks through altered moisture regimes and temperature fluctuations that affect the delicate bryophyte communities this species depends upon. Its extremely limited distribution and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions.
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Quarrying and mining activities
Road construction and infrastructure development
Urban expansion and habitat fragmentation
Air pollution and acid deposition
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 | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | 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
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
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). Rock Fingerwort (Lepidozia cupressina). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/rock-fingerwort