rough goose neck moss
Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus
Historically, its springy, resilient cushions were harvested in large quantities to pack fragile glassware and chink log cabins.
- Scientific name
- Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Bryophyta › Bryopsida › Hypnales › Hylocomiaceae › Hylocomiadelphus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Humus-rich forest floors, decaying logs, and shaded boulder bases in boreal and temperate coniferous or mixed woodlands
- Diet
- Autotrophic; absorbs water, carbon dioxide, and dissolved mineral nutrients across its leaf and stem surfaces via photosynthesis
- Range
- Canada, United States, Northern Europe, Central Europe, Russia, Japan
- Size
- Shoots typically measure 10–20 cm long
- Lifespan
- 3–10 years per shoot
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Canopy removal from clear-cut logging, intensive soil compaction, and severe air pollution
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and non-toxic. It poses no danger from stings, bites, or contact poisons. Avoid heavy trampling to prevent damage to fragile ground mats.
Photo: HermannSchachner, PD, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/100cdf41-678c-4db8-9d29-b8e91ba0e98c.md