Arrhenia lobata is found from lowland to alpine locations on mosses in wetlands (e.g. springs, fens), but rather rare. Due to the close connection to threatened biotopes, namely flat and transition bogs, as well as Carex-reeds, where the basidiomata sit on wet mosses, at least in temperate areas strongly declining (Krieglsteiner 2001). Since the occurrence tends to be in higher elevations, the species could possibly be even more endangered in Central Europe in the future due to climate warming. There are only 550 occurrences in GBIF, so we estimated the total number of known and unknown localities to be no more than 1500, meaning a total population size of less than 15.000 and number of mature inidivudals in each subpopulation below 1.000 and an ongoing habitat decline. Thus the species is assessed as NT C2(a)(i).

The very few records from Nigeria, Gabon and Argentina are not considered as taxonomically reliably checked. Its status in Australia might be introduced.

Arrhenia lobata is found from lowland to alpine locations on mosses in wetlands (e.g. springs, fens), but rather rare. Due to the close connection to threatened biotopes, namely flat and transition bogs, as well as Carex-reeds, where the basidiomata sit on wet mosses, at least in temperate areas strongly declining (Krieglsteiner 2001) Since the occurrence tends to be in higher elevations, the species could possibly be even more endangered in Central Europe in the future due to climate warming. There are only 550 occurrences in GBIF, so we estimated the total number of known and unknown localities to be nor more than 1500, meaning a total population size of less than 10.000 and number of mature inidivudals in each subpopulation below 1.000 and an ongoing habitat decline. Thus the species is assessed as VU C2(a)(i).

This northern hemispheric species is circumpolar distributed in temperate and boreal to arctic areas. It is more common in in the arctic-alpine regions than in temperate and boreal ones and in the lowlands. It is much more common in Northern Europe than in North America (GBIF 2024).

This species has been assessed for national Red Lists across its range, and it is highly threatened in the south of its range, whereas it is fairly secure further north (assessed as LC in Norway, Sweden and Finland). Arrhenia lobata is found from lowland to alpine locations on mosses in wetlands (e.g. springs, fens), but rather rare. Due to the close connection to threatened biotopes, namely flat and transition bogs, as well as Carex-reeds, classified in the European Red List of Habitats (2016) as Vulnerable (D4.2 Arctic-alpine rich fen, D2.2c Intermediate fen and soft-water spring mire), where the basidiomata sit on wet mosses, at least in temperate areas strongly declining (Krieglsteiner 2001) Since the occurrence tends to be in higher elevations, the species could possibly be even more endangered in Central Europe in the future due to climate warming. There are only 550 occurrences in GBIF, so we estimated the total number of known and unknown localities to be no more than 1500. Based on Dahlberg and Mueller (2011) a maximum scaling factor per site could be 10 (assuming only one genet per site) meaning a total population size of less than 15,000 and number of mature individuals in each subpopulation below 1,000 and an ongoing habitat decline.

Arrhenia lobata is a characteristic and easily recognizable species of sedge meadows, reedbeds, swamps, fens, high mountain grasslands, and snowy soils. It can also be found in humid grasslands or areas where small patches of Sphagnum and other bryophytes are present such as in forests along streams and open heathlands. These habitats are listed in the EU project “Natura 2000” as worthy of protection due to “unfavourable bad” conservation status: Sphagnum and acid bogs (code 7100) and Aapa mires (code 7320).

From northern Europe towards the Mediterranean, these areas gradually become smaller, less widespread and restricted to montane areas. At the southern limit of their distribution, these habitats hosting arctic-alpine plants can be seen as glacial relicts.

Fruiting of this species occurs from summer to autumn.

 

It is endangered by habitat degradation and loss (e.g. habitat conversion, changing hydrology, mining of peat, building recreational facilities), climate change and pollution. Fens and bogs are unique communities that can be destroyed quickly within some days, but require hundreds, if not thousands, of years to form naturally.

The species can be protected through habitat conservation and preventing the degradation of sites of actual and potential occurrence. This includes, e.g., preventing changes in water regime, avoiding intensification of agriculture and silviculture practices in the neighbouring areas, control over peat extraction, decreasing the impacts of tourism, active prevention of the forest succession and erosion, control over the practices leading to eutrophication, etc, and designating key sites for protection.

Inventory studies and monitoring of known sites, molecular taxonomic studies to determine actual species distribution.

This species is distinctive but small and thus does not have any relevance as food or for trading.