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Common Haircap Moss

Mosses and Liverworts

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.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Photosynthetic Autotroph 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
Relationship to People
Used in Traditional Medicine 3
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G5 Secure 4
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 5
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Medium to large moss, dark green, becoming brownish with age 1
Scientific Name
Polytrichum commune 1
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated 6
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Plantae, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Common Haircap Moss

In Biome

Bog, Biomes
Source Polytrichum commune (Wikipedia)

In Ecosystem

Heath, Ecosystems
Source Polytrichum commune (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Australia

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Belgium

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Brazil

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Colombia

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Denmark

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Luxembourg

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North America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

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Portugal

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South Africa

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South Asia

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Sweden

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Taiwan

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United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Polytrichum commune (Wikipedia)
  • Polytrichum commune, Introduction
    is a species of moss found in many regions with high humidity and rainfall.
  • Polytrichum commune, Appearance
    Polytrichum commune is a medium to large moss. It is dark green in colour, but becomes brownish with age.
  • lead sentence (diet), EntityId 281832
    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.
  • In Ecosystem: Heath, Wikipedia intro: "veral Pacific Islands including New Zealand, and also in Australia. It typically grows in bogs, wet heathland and along forest streams. Additionally, class Poly..."
  • In Biome: Bog, Lead section
    It typically grows in bogs, wet heathland and along forest streams.
View the Source
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. Plants For A Future: Polytrichum commune plant record
Plants For A FutureMedicinal Uses
Quote, Medicinal Uses
Used by some people to make a tea to dissolve kidney and gall bladder stones (borealforest.org).
View the Source
4. NatureServe Explorer: Polytrichum commune
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source
5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Plantae
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 45
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 45
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/D/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Plantae","phylum":null,"class":null,"order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Plants","language":"EN"},{"name":"Flora","language":"EN"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source
6. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (IUCN Red List category): IUCN Red List category of Polytrichum commune
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (IUCN Red List category)iucnRedListCategory record
Quote, iucnRedListCategory record
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
International Union for Conservation of NatureView the Source
Wikidata: Common Haircap Moss
  • Wikidata Q178025, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Child Taxon Of: Plantae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
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