Taxon Report

Ptilidium californicum (Aust.) Underw

Pacific fuzzwort

Print Report


© 2021 Scot Loring

Taxon Summary

Ptilidium californicum, commonly known as Pacific fuzzwort, is a liverwort in the Ptilidiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1140 to 1800 meters. Ptilidium californicum is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Ptilidium californicum (Aust.) Underw
Common Name:
 Pacific fuzzwort
Family: Ptilidiaceae
Element Code: NBHEP2U010
USDA Plants Symbol: PTCA5
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: liverwort
Blooming Period: May-Aug May-Aug
Elevation: 1140-1800 (3740-5905)
General Habitats: Lower montane coniferous forest, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details: Usually epiphytic on trees, fallen and decaying logs, and stumps; rarely on humus over boulders

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 4.3
Global Rank: G4G5
State Rank:
 S3S4
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
  • added to 4.3 on 2011-03-23

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 177
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 1
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 176

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT), Humboldt (HUM), Mendocino (MEN), Shasta (SHA), Siskiyou (SIS), Trinity (TRI)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Carberry Creek (4212312), Oregon Caves (4212314), Takilma (4212315), Alderpoint (4012325), Ash Creek Butte (4112241), Bark Shanty Gulch (4112345), Bartle (4112137), Bear Peak (4112365), Big Bend (4112118), Black Lassic (4012335), Board Camp Mtn. (4012366), Boulder Peak (4112351), Broken Rib Mtn. (4112386), Buck Rock (3912288), Buckhorn Bally (4112287), Cecilville (4112322), Chimney Rock (4112356), City of Mount Shasta (4112233), Condrey Mtn. (4112288), Dead Horse Summit (4112127), Deadman Peak (4112228), Deadman Point (4112384), Denny (4012384), Devils Punchbowl (4112376), Dinsmore (4012345), Dunsmuir (4112223), Dutch Creek (4112381), Eaton Peak (4112238), Elk Spring (4112231), Etna (4112248), Figurehead Mtn. (4112383), Forest Glen (4012333), Grasshopper Ridge (4112321), Grider Valley (4112362), Grizzly Peak (4112128), Grouse Mtn. (4012376), Happy Camp (4112374), Hopkins Butte (4112325), Horse Peak (4112147), Huckleberry Mtn. (4112363), Hupa Mountain (4112317), Hurdygurdy Butte (4112377), Kangaroo Mtn. (4112382), Kinyon (4112138), Leech Lake Mtn. (3912381), Little Glass Mtn. (4112156), Lonesome Ridge (4112346), Marble Mountain (4112352), McCloud (4112232), Medicine Lake (4112155), Mount Eddy (4112234), Orleans (4112335), Polar Bear Mtn. (4112385), Preston Peak (4112375), Salyer (4012385), Sawyers Bar (4112332), Secret Spring Mtn. (4112282), Seiad Valley (4112372), Shannon Butte (4012323), Shelly Creek Ridge (4112387), Sims Mountain (4012365), Skunk Ridge (4112117), Smoky Creek (4012332), Somes Bar (4112344), Summit Valley (4112357), Swim Ridge (4012322), Tennant (4112158), Thompson Peak (4112311), Tish Tang Point (4112315), Ukonom Lake (4112353), Ukonom Mtn. (4112354), West Haight Mtn. (4112251), Whisky Bill Peak (4112215), Youngs Peak (4112323)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 8
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
34 19 %
Logging 27 15%
Road/trail construction/maint. 16 9%
Other 10 5%
Improper burning regime 5 2%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 4 2%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 1 0%
Foot traffic/trampling 1 0%
Grazing 1 0%

Notes
Potentially threatened by habitat alteration.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2011-03-23
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 5 February 2025].