List of the bryophytes of Canada facts for kids

This article lists the non-vascular plants found in Canada. These special plants include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Unlike most plants you might know, non-vascular plants don't have a system of tubes (like veins) to carry water and nutrients. This means they usually stay small and live in damp places.

Understanding Plant Status in Canada

When we talk about plants, it's important to know if they are doing well or if they need help. In Canada, scientists use different categories to describe how safe or at risk a plant species is. These categories are often shown with colors:

• Secure (Green): These plants are doing well and are not currently at risk.
• Apparently Secure (Lime): These plants seem safe for now, but we keep an eye on them.
• Vulnerable (Yellow): These plants could become at risk if things change.
• Imperiled (Orange): These plants are in danger and could disappear from Canada.
• Critically Imperiled (Red): These plants are in very serious danger and might disappear soon.
• Not Assessed (Silver): We don't have enough information to know their status yet.
• Historical (Cyan): These plants were once found here but haven't been seen in a long time.
• Extirpated (Blue): These plants no longer exist in Canada, but they might still be found elsewhere in the world.
• Introduced (Fuchsia): These plants were brought to Canada by people, not naturally.

Sometimes, you might see "IDD" next to a plant's name. This means "incomplete distribution data," which just means we don't have all the information about where that plant grows across Canada. Also, some plants are assessed by COSEWIC, which is a group of experts who figure out which Canadian wildlife species are at risk.

Hornworts: Tiny Green Plants

Hornworts (scientific name: Anthocerotophyta) are a small group of non-vascular plants. They get their name from their horn-shaped spore cases, which look like tiny horns sticking out of the plant. They are usually found in moist, shady places.

Examples of Hornworts

• Anthoceros fusiformis: This hornwort is considered Vulnerable in Canada. We need more information about where it grows.
• Anthoceros macounii: Another hornwort that is also Vulnerable in Canada. It's especially at risk in Ontario, where it's considered critically imperiled (red).
• Notothylas orbicularis: This hornwort is doing well and is considered Secure in Canada.
• Phaeoceros carolinianus: This hornwort is also Secure in Canada.

Mosses: Nature's Soft Carpets

Mosses (scientific name: Bryophyta) are probably the most well-known non-vascular plants. They often grow in soft, green carpets on rocks, trees, and soil. Mosses play an important role in nature, helping to prevent soil erosion and holding moisture.

Andreaeaceae Family Mosses

This family of mosses often grows on rocks in cold, mountainous areas.

• Andreaea alpestris: This moss is Secure in Canada, but it's vulnerable in British Columbia and critically imperiled in Alberta.
• Andreaea blyttii: Another Secure moss, but it's imperiled in Labrador and critically imperiled in Alberta and Newfoundland.
• Andreaea schofieldiana: This moss is Imperiled across Canada, meaning it's quite rare and needs protection.
• Andreaea sinuosa: This moss is also Imperiled in Canada and is critically imperiled in British Columbia.

Bryaceae Family Mosses

This is a large family of mosses, and many of them are found in Canada.

• Anomobryum filiforme: This moss is Apparently Secure in Canada, but it's critically imperiled in Labrador, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
• Bryum argenteum (Silvery bryum moss): This common moss is Secure in Canada. It often looks silvery because of air bubbles inside its leaves.
• Bryum calobryoides: This moss is Vulnerable in Canada, and imperiled in British Columbia and critically imperiled in Alberta.
• Bryum dichotomum: The status of this moss is Not Assessed in Canada, meaning we need more research to know how it's doing.
• Bryum purpurascens: This moss is Vulnerable in Canada, and critically imperiled in Alberta, Ontario, and Newfoundland.
• Pohlia brevinervis: This moss is in serious trouble! It's Critically Imperiled in Canada and critically imperiled in Yukon and Alberta.
• Pohlia tundrae: This moss, as its name suggests, is found in tundra regions and is Imperiled in Canada.
• Rhodobryum roseum (Rose moss): This beautiful moss, which can look like a tiny rose, is Secure in Canada.

Other Interesting Mosses

• Catoscopium nigritum (from the Catoscopiaceae family): This moss is Apparently Secure in Canada, but it's critically imperiled in Labrador and New Brunswick.
• Hypopterygium fauriei (from the Hypopterygiaceae family): This moss is Apparently Secure in Canada.
• Meesia triquetra (from the Meesiaceae family): This moss is Secure in Canada, but critically imperiled in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
• Paludella squarrosa (from the Meesiaceae family): This moss is Apparently Secure in Canada, but critically imperiled in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
• Cinclidium stygium (from the Mniaceae family): This moss is Secure in Canada, but critically imperiled in New Brunswick and imperiled in Labrador and Newfoundland.

Protecting Canada's Non-Vascular Plants

Even though they are small, hornworts and mosses are a very important part of Canada's natural environment. They help keep ecosystems healthy, provide homes for tiny creatures, and contribute to the beauty of our landscapes. Learning about their status helps us understand which species need our help the most so we can protect them for the future.