Bryophyta (Mosses) of Vancouver Island
This is the iNaturalist list of moss species of Vancouver Island (January, 2023). I will fill in species descriptions as I make observations or receive feedback.
If you would like to contribute to the guide, get in contact with me and I could also make you an editor.
Hope this ...more ↓
dendroalsia moss
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145609392
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145374388
Grey-cushioned Grimmia
Grimmia pulvinata, otherwise known as grey-cushioned grimmia or pulvinate dry rock moss, is a bryophyte moss common in temperate climates worldwide.
juniper haircap moss
Polytrichum juniperinum, commonly known as juniper haircap or juniper polytrichum moss, is an evergreen and perennial species of moss that is widely distributed, growing on every continent including Antarctica.
Long-stalked Haircap Moss
Polytrichum longisetum is a species of Polytrichaceae. It is found in cooler areas of both the Southern and Northern hemispheres.
Common Haircap Moss
Polytrichum commune (also known as common haircap, great golden maidenhair, great goldilocks, common haircap moss, or common hair moss) is a species of moss found in many regions with high humidity and rainfall. The species can be exceptionally tall for a moss with stems often exceeding 30 cm (12 in) though rarely reaching 70 cm (27.5 in), but ...more ↓
fan moss
Rhizomnium glabrescens, also called fan moss or large leafy moss, is a species of moss in the genus Rhizomnium.
Bonfire moss
Funaria hygrometrica, the bonfire moss or common cord-moss, is a type of water moss which grows on moist, shady, and damp soil. It can also be found on moist walls and the crevices of rocks and places where recent fires have taken place.
Menzies' Tree Moss
Leucolepis acanthoneura is a species of moss in the family Mniaceae. It is known as leucolepis umbrella moss or Menzies' tree moss (from its synonym, Leucolepis menziesii). It is endemic to the Pacific Coast in Canada and the United States.
stairstep moss
Hylocomium splendens, commonly known as glittering woodmoss, splendid feather moss, stairstep moss, and mountain fern moss, is a perennial clonal moss with a widespread distribution in Northern Hemisphere boreal forests. It is commonly found in Europe, Russia, Alaska and Canada, where it is often the most abundant moss species. It also grows in the ...more ↓
Badge Moss
Plagiomnium insigne, the badge moss or coastal leafy moss, is a species of moss found on humus in moist, shaded, lowland forests. It can also be found on soil along trails and other shaded, open areas. The moss sometimes forms lush, extensive mats.
Redshank
Ceratodon purpureus is a dioicous moss with a color ranging from yellow-green to red. The height amounts to 3 centimeters. It is found worldwide, mainly in urban areas and next to roads on dry sand soils. It can grow in a very wide variety of habitats, from polluted highway shoulders and mine tailings to areas recently denuded by wildfire to the bright slopes of Antarctica. Its ...more ↓
Broom Forkmoss
Dicranum scoparium, the broom forkmoss, is a species of dicranid moss, native to North America, including the Great Lakes region. It usually forms tufts or mats on soil in dry to moist forested areas. As with many types of moss Broom moss grows in clumps with Broom mosses as well as other mosses. It can be distinguished by its leaves, which strongly curve to one ...more ↓
Silvery Bryum
Bryum argenteum, the silvergreen bryum moss, is a species of moss in the family Bryaceae. An adaptable plant, it is found in many parts of the world, including Europe, North America, the deserts of Australia and in Antarctica.
Wall Screw-moss
Tortula muralis, commonly known as wall screw-moss, is a species of moss in the family Pottiaceae. T. muralis is found throughout the world.
Neat Feather-moss
Pseudoscleropodium purum, or neat feather-moss, is a species of moss and the sole representative of the genus Pseudoscleropodium.
Shining Hookeria
Hookeria lucens, the shining hookeria, is a species of moss in the family Hookeriaceae. It is native to Europe, east to the Caucasus, Turkey and China, as well as Scandinavia and the Faeroe Islands and western North America.
Tree Climacium Moss
Climacium dendroides, which has the common name tree climacium moss, is a moss species within the family Hypnaceae, in the class Bryopsida, subclass Bryidae and order Hypnales.
Square Gooseneck Moss
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus is a species of moss known as springy turf-moss in the United Kingdom, and square goose neck moss in the United States. It is widespread in Eurasia and North America, and has been introduced to the Southern Hemisphere. It has broad ecological tolerances, and is usually found in man-made habitats such as lawns and golf courses. It is most ...more ↓
Willow Moss
Fontinalis antipyretica, the antifever fontinalis moss, greater water-moss, or common water moss, is a species of submerged aquatic moss belonging to the subclass Bryidae. It is found in both still and flowing freshwater in Europe, Asia, North America and parts of Africa.
Northern Peatmoss
Sphagnum capillifolium, the red bogmoss or small red peat moss, is a species of peat moss native to Canada, the northern United States, Greenland and Europe. Small red peat can be distinguished by its sweeping, outward-curving branches that resemble tresses.
Tetraphis Moss
Tetraphis pellucida, the pellucid four-tooth moss, is one of two species of moss in the acrocarpous genus Tetraphis. Its name refers to its four large peristome teeth found on the sporophyte capsule.
Lanky Moss
Rhytidiadelphus loreus, also commonly known as lanky moss, is a nonvascular "feather moss" species that is a key component of a healthy, thriving forest ecosystem. Lanky moss grows in North America, Canada and Europe. It is primarily a coastal species that grows in moist, coniferous forests. It grows on decaying logs, the forest floor and as an epiphyte on living trees. ...more ↓
Pendulous Wing-moss
Antitrichia curtipendula (also known as pendulous wing moss or hanging moss) is a species of feather-moss found predominantly in western North America and the western coast of Europe.
magnificent leafy moss
Plagiomnium venustum, also known as magnificent leafy moss, is a species of moss belonging to the family Mniaceae. It is found mainly in western North America along the coastal region. This moss can be identified from other members of the Plagiomnium genus by dark coloured stomata guide cells and the absence of sterile stems. It is most commonly found growing as a mat on ...more ↓
Dotted Thyme-moss
Rhizomnium punctatum, also called dotted thyme-moss, is a small species in the genus Rhizomnium.
Girgensohn's Peatmoss
Sphagnum girgensohnii, the Girgensohn's bogmoss, Girgensohn's sphagnum or common green peat moss, is a species of peat moss with a Holarctic and Indo-Malesian distribution.
Heath Star-moss
Campylopus introflexus, the heath star moss, is a species of moss. It has a native southern hemisphere distribution in southern South America, southern part of Africa, southern and eastern Australia, and Atlantic and Pacific islands such as New Zealand, New Caledonia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is a neophyte in Europe and coastal western North America. In some ...more ↓
Red-stemmed Feather Moss
Pleurozium schreberi, the red-stemmed feathermoss or Schreber's big red stem moss, is a moss with a loose growth pattern. The root name pleuro comes from the Latin for ribs, possibly describing how the parts branch from the stem.
Brown Peatmoss
Sphagnum fuscum, the rusty bogmoss or rusty peat moss, is a peat moss found commonly in Norway and Sweden, and can be found scattered across North America, the United Kingdom, and in southern to eastern Europe.
Crome Sphagnum
Sphagnum squarrosum, commonly known as the spiky bog-moss or spreading-leaved bog moss is a species of moss which grows in nutrient-rich, damp soil. Typical habitats include woodland, the banks of streams and ditches; it can even be found at high altitude in damp cirques. The species often grows near sedges (Carex), rushes (Juncus) or purple moor ...more ↓
Bog Haircap Moss
Polytrichum strictum, commonly known as bog haircap moss or strict haircap, is an evergreen and perennial species of moss native to Sphagnum bogs and other moist habitats in temperate climates. It has a circumboreal distribution, and is also found in South America and Antarctica.
Ostrich-plume Moss
Ptilium crista-castrensis, the knights plume moss or ostrich-plume feathermoss, is a moss species within the family Hypnaceae, in the class Bryopsida, subclass Bryidae and order Hypnales.
Papillose Peatmoss
Sphagnum papillosum, the papillose peatmoss, is a species of peat moss distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. Although sometimes confused with Sphagnum imbricatum and Sphagnum palustre, it is distinguished by its yellow-green to brown short, blunt branches and papillose chlorophyllose cells.
creeping feather-moss
Amblystegium serpens, the creeping feathermoss or nano moss, is a species of moss. Its range includes Britain, where it is a common species.
ribbed bog moss
Aulacomnium palustre, the bog groove-moss or ribbed bog moss, is a moss that is nearly cosmopolitan in distribution. It occurs in North America, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Eurasia, and New Zealand. In North America, it occurs across southern arctic, subboreal, and boreal regions from Alaska and British Columbia to Greenland and Quebec. Documentation of ...more ↓
common bladder moss
Physcomitrium pyriforme, commonly known as common bladder-moss, is a bryophyte native to all continents except South America and Antarctica. Its capsules mature beginning in late fall and through the spring. It is most commonly found in wet soils in disturbed locations. A highly variable species, size, leaf characters and shape of the capsule vary across its range, but ...more ↓
Russow's Peatmoss
Sphagnum russowii, Russow's sphagnum or Russow's bogmoss, is a species of peat moss with a Holarctic distribution.
