categoryZMosses Mosses & Clubmosses List 

MARSH HAIR-MOSS

COMMON HAIRCAP MOSS

Polytrichum commune

Mosses Family [Polytrichaceae]

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13th May 2011, High Park wood, Whitbarrow, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Taller and seems to stand up straighter than Wood Hair-Moss.


13th May 2011, High Park wood, Whitbarrow, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Stems rigid rather than floppy, with long narrow leaves tapering to a point. The moss is surrounded by the lime-green/yellow feathery moss called Step Moss.


13th May 2011, High Park wood, Whitbarrow, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
It has a two tier nature, with new growth growing out of the 'cup' on older brown growth from previous year(s). Note the 'cup' atop the new growth also. Can it be three tiered?


13th May 2011, High Park wood, Whitbarrow, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Leaves in whorls up the stem. They stick out straight when moist, and close to the stem when dry. Male 'flower' atop.


13th May 2011, High Park wood, Whitbarrow, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
 The male 'flower' forms from modified leaves at the top of the plant and has pentagonal symmetry. It is light green, un-like the purple/red ones of Bristly Haircap Moss.


2nd June 2010, Stoneside Hill, Black Coombe, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
A brief stop on a very long walk from Ravenglass to Silecroft over as many hills and bogs as could be found on the way. These were in a marshy saddle between two summits.


2nd June 2010, Stoneside Hill, Black Coombe, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
The capsules are cylindrical with pointy tops and conical bottoms.


2nd June 2010, Stoneside Hill, Black Coombe, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
The capsules are covered in very fine yellowish hairs.


2nd June 2010, Stoneside Hill, Black Coombe, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Each leafy stalk seems to have a tapered axle protruding from the top: two leaves back to back pointing straight upwards.


Some similarities to : Wood Hair-Moss but that is less tall, is more floppy, with leaves of unequal length and closer together, and its leaves are more curved when moist and they do not have light glossy sheaths.

No relation to : Moss Campion or Mossy Saxifrage [plants with similar names].

Marsh Hair-Moss inhabits wet woodland in particular, but also wet heaths, bogs and damp moors. It often grows with Sphagnum Moss (but not in these photographs) and beside watercourses in woodlands.


  Polytrichum commune  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Polytrichaceae  

Distribution
 family8Mosses family8Polytrichaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Polytrichum
Polytrichum
(Mosses)

MARSH HAIR-MOSS

COMMON HAIRCAP MOSS

Polytrichum commune

Mosses Family [Polytrichaceae]

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