As November comes to an end, we want to highlight a very rare species – the Stiff Apple-moss (Bartramia ithyphylla). This moss has been assessed as critically endangered (CR) in our project, but we have some great news – a new population of the species was discovered in Latvia this summer!

The Stiff Apple-moss is a leafy moss with colors ranging from soft green to bluish hues. When its leaves are dry, they are stiff and upright, but in moist conditions, they bend and become linear. The leaf edges are thin and toothed, with two rows of small teeth, while the leaf tip is pointed.

In Latvia, the species has two historical sites: one near Cēsis, along the Gauja River, and another in the Alsunga area of Kurzeme. Additionally, there are two modern sites: one in Central Kurzeme, in the Venta and Šķervelis valley near Lēnas, where it grows in an area of approximately 3x5 cm. The most recent site was discovered in 2024 by LIFE FOR SPECIES bryophyte expert Līga Strazdiņa on a sandstone outcrop along the shore of Lake Burtnieki. The species is not tied to any specific region of Latvia but depends on the availability of suitable habitats and substrates.

Elsewhere in Europe, Stiff Apple-moss is a widespread mountain species, found in various habitats growing on rocks and in rock crevices. In Latvia, it has been recorded on sandstone cliffs, dolomite outcrops, and clayey slopes along roadsides.

The species faces threats from increased tourism activity, damage to cliffs, and "improvements" to cliff areas, such as the removal of shrubs and trees to enhance scenic views. Such activities can lead to excessive exposure to sunlight, worsening the moss's growth conditions.