Taxon Report

Tortella alpicola Dix.

alpine crisp-moss

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Tortella alpicola, commonly known as alpine crisp-moss, is a moss in the Pottiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Cismontane woodland (rocky, and volcanic), growing at elevations from 1400 to 1400 meters. Tortella alpicola is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Tortella alpicola Dix.
Common Name:	alpine crisp-moss
Family:	Pottiaceae
Element Code:	NBMUS7K090
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	moss
Blooming Period:
Elevation:	1400-1400 (4595-4595)
General Habitats:	Cismontane woodland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G5?
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lake (LAK), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Clark Mtn. (3511555), St. John Mtn. (3912246)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

Notes



Known in CA from only one occurrence in the Low Gap area, Mendocino NF. See Ann. Bryol. 3:54 (1929) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

USFS Potential Species of Conservation Concern Profile

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 25 October 2025].