Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.153791
Element CodePPLYC020J0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumLycophyta
ClassLycopodiopsida
OrderLycopodiales
FamilyLycopodiaceae
GenusHuperzia
SynonymsHuperzia appressa(Desv.) A. Löve & D. Löve
Other Common NamesAppalachian clubmoss (EN) Appalachian Clubmoss (EN) Lycopode des Appalaches (FR) Mountain Firmoss (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-03-27
Change Date2011-11-01
Edition Date2024-03-27
Edition AuthorsYOUNG, STEPHEN M., rev. Soteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank ReasonsHuperzia appalachiana is a wide-ranging perennial subshrub fern ally in rock outcrops at high elevations and rarely in seepy areas or fens at medium elevations in eastern North America from Newfoundland and Labrador west to Ontario in Canada, and in the United States from Minnesota east to New England, with a disjunction to the southern Appalachians. Threats include hybridization with other Huperzia species, development, recreation, nitrogen deposition, changes to rainfall regime, increased storm frequencies, deer browse, gypsy moths, wildfire, rights-of-way maintenance, and other threats in some places. Little is known about rangewide trends, but with a large range extent and over 200 occurrences this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsHuperzia appalachiana occurs in eastern North America from Newfoundland and Labrador west to Ontario in Canada, Michigan and Minnesota in the United States and east to New York and New England, with a disjunction to the southern Appalachians in western Virginia, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and northeast Georgia (FNA 1993, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2023). Range extent was estimated to be over 3.3 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsArea of Occupancy was estimated to be over 200 2km by 2km grid cells using herbarium specimen data, photo-based observation data, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between the years of 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Huperzia appalachiana is threatened by hybridization with other Huperzia species, development, recreation, increased nitrogen deposition, changes to rainfall regime, increased storm frequencies, deer browse, gypsy moth infestation, wildfire, rights-of-way maintenance, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (NatureServe 2024).