Common Haircap Moss

Common haircap moss, Polytrichum commune, is a moss of the family Polytrichaceae found in regions of high humidity and rainfall, and is unusually tall and structurally advanced for a moss, with stems typically 5 to 10 centimeters long, sometimes exceeding 30 centimeters and rarely reaching 70. Its color is dark green when young, turning brownish with age. The species grows in bogs, wet heathland and along forest streams, and readily colonizes open ground recently disturbed by people or livestock. It is widespread through the temperate and boreal Northern Hemisphere and also occurs in Mexico, several Pacific islands including New Zealand, and Australia, and carries a secure conservation status.