Twisted oak moss (Syntrichia laevipila) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 1

COSEWIC Assessment Summary

Assessment Summary – May 2004

Common name : Twisted oak moss

Scientific name : Syntrichia laevipila

Status : Special Concern

Reason for designation : This moss is a small species that occurs from British Columbia and Washington southward to California. The Canadian populations are at the northern limits of their range in western North America, and in Canada the species has a restricted distribution where it occurs in the area of south-eastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The species is known from 25 sites where it is restricted to the bark of trees, in particular Garry oaks. This species is never dominant where it grows, not is it frequent in large oak stands. Many of the known populations are in protected areas. The major threat to the species is the disappearance of mature Garry oaks, which would result in the extirpation of most populations of this species.

Occurrence : British Columbia

Status history : Designated Special Concern in May 2004. Assessment based on a new status report.

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