Hair Cap Moss, Common Hair Cap Moss, Great Golden Maidenhair Moss, Great Goldilocks

Hair Cap Moss, Common Hair Cap Moss, Great Golden Maidenhair Moss, Great Goldilocks Polytrichum commune Part to full shade; moderately wet to medium moisture level; will grow on most any surface or soil as long as it is moist; acidic pH.  2 to 4 inches typical height but can exceed 12 inches and even up to 28 inches. Preferred regions are those of high humidity and rainfall, including bogs, forest stream edges and similar moist, somewhat shaded places.  If it remains wet, it tolerates full sun. Native Region:  Listed by the Tennessee Herbarium as native to Tennessee with no listing by county Description:  This medium to large moss occurs in dense tufts and can often form extensive colonies. Its wiry spiked shoots resemble a miniature display of green fireworks. Exceptionally tall for a moss, often exceeding 12 inches.  It is an “endohydric” moss which means it must conduct water up from the base of the plant.  Even though it has no vascular system, it does have water conducting tissues in the central stem which is why it can grow much larger than most mosses.  Color is dark green and turns brownish with age. It forms very distinctive capsules containing sporophytes.  Found in both sun and shade on soil and rocks and even logs in wet boggy places along streams and lakes.

Photo courtesy of Ohio Moss and Lichen Association https://ohiomosslichen.org Photo courtesy of Ohio Moss and Lichen Association https://ohiomosslichen.org Photo courtesy of Illinois Wildflowers https://illinoiswildflowers.info Photo courtesy of Illinois Wildflowers https:www.illinoiswildflowers.info