Rank ReasonsBryoxiphium norvegicum ("sword moss"), though very widely scattered, is very rare and local throughout the eastern United States, but presumably found in well over 100 locations worldwide. In the western United States, the sword moss is known from Arizona and Mt. Rainer in Washington. The species is also known from Greenland, Alaska (the Aleutian Islands), Iceland, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Lombock Islands, and Soviet Far East (including Kamchatka). Bryoxiphium is believed to be one of the most primitive moss genera, a relic that has survived glaciation in North America (Steere 1937). The rarity of sporophytes is probably because male and female plants grow in different areas. For instance, only female plants are reported from Greenland and Iceland. The species is abundant in parts northeast China (Changbai Shan, Belland, pers obs. 1997)
Range Extent CommentsWidely scattered through eastern North America, from Pennsylvania south to Alabama and west to Minnesota, Iowa, and Arkansas. In western North America, reported from Arizona and Washington. Also known from Greenland, Iceland, the Dominican Republic and the Aleutian Islands (Crum and Anderson 1981). Mexico, Japan, Alaska (Lawton 1971). Korea, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Lombock Islands, Soviet Far East (including Kamchatka) (Noguchi 1987).