Taxon Report

Syntrichia lithophila (Dusén) Ochyra & R. H. Zander

Dusen's twisted moss

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Syntrichia lithophila, commonly known as Dusen's twisted moss, is a moss (saxicolous) in the Pottiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, and Pinyon and juniper woodland, growing at elevations from 1280 to 1280 meters. Syntrichia lithophila is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Syntrichia lithophila (Dusén) Ochyra & R. H. Zander
Common Name:	Dusen's twisted moss
Family:	Pottiaceae
Element Code:	NBMUSA2080
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	moss (saxicolous)
Blooming Period:
Elevation:	1280-1280 (4200-4200)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:	On west facing shaded basaltic outcrops.

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	added to 2B.3 on 2023-08-25

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	1
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Modoc (MOD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Copic (4112173)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

Notes




Threats:

Taxonomy:
Formerly a complex that included Syntrichia sarconeurum and S. pygmaea; these two taxa have been synonymized with S. lithophila.

Selected References

Proposed addition to CRPR 2B.3, G4 / S1 (2023)

Arkiv för Botanik 6(8): 23. 8 f. 14. 9 f. 2–5. 1906

Plant and Fungal Systematics 67(2): 40–44. 2022

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 19 November 2025].