Moss Specimen

Date2007

Object numberHF.2012.49.41

DescriptionA large sample of dry Hylocomium splendens [Hedw.] Schimp. in B.S.G. moss with thin, feathery stems. Stems are overlapping and loosely interwoven. Stems have short branches with fine, feather-like leaves. Stems are brown, red-brown in colour. Leaves are light green and brown-green in colour.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Order: Hypnales
Family: Hylocomiaceae
Genus: Hylocomium
Species: Hylocomium splendens [Hedw.] Schimp.

Narrative

Collected on October 23, 2007, by Rosemary Curley from the Devil's Punchbowl, North Granville, Queens County, PEI (46°24'21.05"N, 63°29'8.18"W. Datum: NAD83).

Hylocomium splendens is a common moss that grows in loose carpets. It has a pleurocarpous (horizontal trailing stems) growth form with branched growth pattern. The moss forms a new bi-pinnately branched, feathery "step" for each year of its growth. The branched leaves are double costate.

Hylocomium splendens grows in a variety of habitats including rotting logs, cliff faces, tree trunks and the forest floor. It is commonly found in coastal areas and coniferous forest. Geographically it can be found throughout North America, Australia, Europe, South & North Asia. It is common throughout the three Maritime provinces.

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