Taxon Report

Tortula californica Bartr.

California screw moss

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Tortula californica, commonly known as California screw moss, is a moss in the Pottiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chenopod scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 10 to 1460 meters. Tortula californica is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Tortula californica Bartr.
Common Name:	California screw moss
Family:	Pottiaceae
Element Code:	NBMUS7L090
USDA Plants Symbol:	TOCA9
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	moss
Blooming Period:
Elevation:	10-1460 (35-4790)
General Habitats:	Chenopod scrub, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Sandy
Microhabitat Details:	soil

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2G3
State Rank:	S2?
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	15
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	13

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kern (KRN), Los Angeles (LAX), Modoc (MOD), Monterey (MNT), Riverside (RIV), San Diego (SDG), Santa Barbara (SBA), Ventura (VEN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Fortynine Mtn. (4111958), Alberhill (3311764), Imperial Beach (3211751), Lakeview (3311771), Leonards Hot Springs (4112051), Oil Center (3511848), Point Dume (3411817), Santa Catalina East (3311833), Santa Catalina North (3311844), Santa Rosa Island North (3312081), Sitton Peak (3311754), Soberanes Point (3612148), Temecula (3311742), Triunfo Pass (3411818)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	%

Notes



Need quad for Santa Rosa Island occurrence. See The Bryologist 48:90-92 (1945) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 9 May 2025].