Twisted oak moss (Syntrichia laevipila) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 9

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Special Significance of the Species

The Canadian populations of Syntrichia laevipila represent the northern limit of the distribution of this species in North America. Also, it is a characteristic species of the Garry oak ecosystem, one of the most threatened of all native ecosystems in Canada. The Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) has been put in place to address the loss of Garry oak habitats in British Columbia. A great deal of research is presently underway to assist in the understanding and potential recovery of many of the rare species and oak habitats along the coast (Fuchs 2001). Although this moss appears more common than previously reported, its range is still, nevertheless, highly restricted in Canada.