Pincushion moss forms soft, rounded mounds that look pale whitish green when dry and turn darker green after rain. Its leaves are wrapped in clear, empty cells that soak up water like a sponge. It is widespread in eastern North America, and pincushion mosses are among the most popular mosses grown in gardens.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Dense, pillow-like cushions of crowded upright stems, from a few inches to 1 ft (30 cm) or more across and up to about 6 in (15 cm) high. Dry plants are whitish, roughly the color of celery; wet plants look darker green.
- Leaves
- Thick leaves about 1/8–3/8 in (3–9 mm) long, with a base that wraps the stem and a long, tube-like upper part that is usually as long as or longer than the base.
Look-alikes
White moss makes much smaller cushions, only a few inches across and about 1/2 in (1 cm) tall, and often bears . Its leaves are just 2–4 mm long, with the tip part shorter than the base. Leaf details need a hand lens or microscope.
Why they get mixed upIt shares the same pale, whitish look and is the other pincushion moss widely found in the eastern U.S.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- upland woods
- ridges and rock ledges
- woodland edges
- bluff tops
- Range
- Widely distributed in eastern North America, as well as Europe. In Missouri it occurs statewide where the habitat suits it.
- Preferred conditions
- Usually on dry soil or rock in open upland woods, especially thin soils on ridges and ledges over granite, sandstone, or dolomite. It can turn up in moist spots too, but they aren't its typical home.
Life cycle
- Reproduction
- Rarely produces spore capsules. Instead, pieces knocked loose by birds, squirrels, deer, and other animals take root and grow into new colonies.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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