Hylocomium splendens is one of those latin names that rolls off the tongue so wonderfully that its a shame that there is a perfectly sensible, descriptive common name. This moss competes with others on the forest floor by growing its new growth out of the middle of the previous season's frond. The resulting "steps" make this moss easy to identify. This moss grows on rocks, logs and mineral soil here at Leaning Oaks. It almost always grows in shade. Other common names are Glittering Wood-moss and Mountain Fern Moss, but neither of these are as spendid as the latin name, nor as descriptive as the common name used here.
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AuthorsTwo biologists on a beautiful property armed with cameras, smart phones and a marginal knowledge of websites took up the challenge of documenting one species a day on that property. Join along! Posts and photographs by Leah Ramsay and David Fraser (unless otherwise stated); started January 1, 2014. Categories
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