 This is a very common moss here, growing on rocks, roots, logs and stumps. It is distinguished by it feather like appearance with its regularly once pinnate branches. Sporophytes of this moss grow from the side of the stem, and the smooth,curved capsules have a elongated beak (hence the common name). The latin name of this moss has been moved about quite a bit. I first learned it at Eurynchium oreganum then it changed to either Stokesiella oreganum and then Kindbergia oreganum (or vice versa I can't remember) and now it is apparently, back to Eurynchium.
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 Polytrichum juniperinum Not only is this moss very common on Leaning Oaks both in the meadow and forest, but it is also common throughout the world with the exception of a few tropical areas. The deep, bright green mats are on rocks and shallow soils. If you look very closely you may be able to see the red tips on the leaves. The sporangia are erect when young (like the photos here) and will look stouter and bent at maturity. This UBC site has some close-ups:
http://blogs.ubc.ca/biology321/?page_id=1464  Capillary Thread Moss is one of the mosses that commonly grows on concrete surfaces. It is most noticeable when the green capsules emerge in the late winter. These turn chestnut red as they mature, often on bright red stems. Bryum capillare grows in clumps, bright green in winter when the moss is hydrated. As it dries out in the spring, the stems twist and turn reddish. Here it is a common species on our paved driveway, and our house roof, which is shingled in concrete tiles. A few years ago we removed the sheets of moss that were growing on the roof. In total 8 cubic yards of moss were added to the garden - a substantial input of organic matter!
 Dendroalsia abietina is an attractive and easily identified moss that grows on the trunks of Garry Oak and Big Leaf Maple here at Leaning Oaks. It is some times called Balsam Fir Moss since the fronds look like someone shingled the trunk of a tree with felt cut outs of tiny Christmas Trees. In the summer, this moss shrivels up and forms a dense mat on the trunk of the trees. Here it grows only when the trunk gets some shade, trees out in the open tend not to have large mats of this moss. Another common name, Plume Moss, is a bit ambiguous since a number of other mosses go by that common name as well.  Sometimes a common name really does capture what a species looks like. Rhytidiadelphus triquestris is known by a number of common names (Shaggy Moss, Rough-neck Moss, Rough Goose-neck Moss), but this one captures the look of the moss perfectly. It is the dominant moss in the understory of our Douglas-fir stand here at Leaning Oaks and grows on rocks, mineral soil and over rotten logs and branches. 
Moss understory in our Douglas-fir stand, dominated by Electrified Cat's Tail.
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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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