365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Step Moss, Hylocomium Splendens
Day 42: Hylocomium splendens ("Step Moss" or "Stairstep Moss") is one of the easiest Pacific Northwest bryophytes to identify. Its lacy foliage and unique growth habit are unlike those of any other moss in our area. It often forms dense mats on the floor of the lower forest, and only close examination will reveal its intricate beauty. Its name is derived from its pattern of growth. Each year, a new stem piggybacks on last year's, forming a long chain of "steps." Although usually only two or three tiers are readily visible, chains of 10 or more are not uncommon where this moss is abundant.
Labels:
annual growth,
bryophytes,
Hylocomium splendens,
Longmire,
MORA,
Stairstep Moss,
Step Moss
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