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Harrimanella hypnoides

(L.) Coville

Moss Bell-heather

G5Secure Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139256
Element CodePDERI1U010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEricales
FamilyEricaceae
GenusHarrimanella
Synonyms
Cassiope hypnoides(L.) D. Don
Other Common Names
Cassiope hypnoïde (FR) Mossplant (EN) mossplant (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-06-27
Change Date1984-02-29
Edition Date2024-06-27
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Harrimanella hypnoides is a widespread perennial shrub occurring in subarctic and arctic biomes of North America, Greenland, and mainland Europe to west Siberia. This species is potentially threatened by development, invasive species, erosion, recreation, shifting habitats due to climate change. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent, and over 300 occurrences, Harrimanella hypnoides is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Harrimanella hypnoides occurs in subarctic and arctic North America from Yukon north to Nunavet, east to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and south to Maine and New Hampshire in the United States (FNA 2009). This species also occurs in Greenland and mainland Europe to west Siberia (POWO 2024). Range extent was estimated to be over 2 million square kilometers using NatureServe network occurrence data, herbarium specimens, and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024, NatureServe 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to NatureServe network occurrence data, herbarium specimens, and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are well over 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024, NatureServe 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Harrimanella hypnoides is potentially threatened by development, invasive species, erosion, recreation, shifting habitats due to climate change, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given species' broad range, large number of occurrences, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Harrimanella hypnoides occurs in damp sheltered places in tundra at lower elevations, heaths, dry snowbeds, in alpine and subalpine meadows, and in damp soils (FNA 2009, Elven et al. 2020).

Reproduction

The seeds of Harrimanella hypnoides are light and wind-dispersed, though this species can also spread vegetatively (Elven et al. 2020).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousAlpineTundra
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
New YorkSXYes
New HampshireS1Yes
MaineS1Yes
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
NunavutS4Yes
LabradorS4Yes
Northwest TerritoriesSHYes
Island of NewfoundlandS2Yes
QuebecS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (4)
New Hampshire (4)
AreaForestAcres
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
References (8)
  1. Elven, R., Arnesen, G., Alsos, I. G., Sandbakk, B. 2020. <i>Harrimanella </i><i>hypnoides. </i>Svalbardflora. Online. Available: https://svalbardflora.no. (accessed 2024).
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2009. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 8. Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 585 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  4. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. Plants of the World Online (POWO). 2024. Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Online. Available: https://powo.science.kew.org/ (accessed 2024).
  8. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).