Alpine Bladder-fern vs Common Fieldcap

Cystopteris alpina compared with Agrocybe pediades

Key Differences

Alpine Bladder-fern is Near Threatened while Common Fieldcap is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alpine Bladder-fern	Common Fieldcap
Kingdom	Plantae (نباتات)	Fungi (فطر)
Phylum	Tracheophyta	Basidiomycota (دعاميات)
Class	Polypodiopsida (سراخس رقيقة المباغ)	Agaricomycetes (غاريقونانية)
Order	Polypodiales (سرخسيات)	Agaricales (غاريقونيات)
Family	Cystopteridaceae	Strophariaceae
Genus	Cystopteris	Agrocybe
Species	Cystopteris alpina	Agrocybe pediades

Conservation Status

Alpine Bladder-fern

NT — Near Threatened

Common Fieldcap

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alpine Bladder-fern	Common Fieldcap
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alpine Bladder-fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common Fieldcap

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

Alpine Bladder-fern

The Alpine Bladder-fern (Cystopteris alpina) is a species in the genus Cystopteris. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies. Distributed across Norway and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common Fieldcap

The Common Fieldcap (<em>Agrocybe pediades</em>) is a saprotrophic fungus belonging to the genus Agrocybe within the family Strophariaceae. It typically produces small, tan to pale brown cap-shaped fruiting bodies and is often found growing in clusters or scattered on lawns, grassy areas, forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil-rich ecosystems. The species typically inhabits forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems, obtaining nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter. Its geographic range includes several European countries — Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden — as well as the United States in North America. <em>Agrocybe pediades</em> is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its broad distribution and apparent stability. Biological traits of this species, including specific data on fruiting body size, lifespan, and ecological preferences, remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Like other members of its genus, it typically fruits during warmer months and often appears after rainfall in nutrient-rich grassland and woodland habitats.