In this article
What is moss?
It is a low - grow , flowerless flora without roots . Mosses typically grow in wetlands , rainforests , and generally in any location where damp or moisture is sufficient .
They also expand well in shaded areas and diffuse through spores ( likeferns ) . There are more than 10,000 species of moss and again , like ferns , they are known to be one of the longest booming plant species in the earth emerging from 540 million years ago .
Pros and cons of moss
If you ever find out yourself considering moss as a stand-in for dope , here are some professional and bunco game that you should know about .
Pros:
Cons:
What is moss bad for?
Technically , if moss is bad for something , it would be around construction material . line of descent Sir Henry Joseph Wood , concrete , and fences might be niches of bad moss .
It might also be bad as dense background cover in lawns as it could cover the gigantism of fungus in the lawn . Other than that , all is good with moss .
How can moss be categorized?
Botanically , moss now have their own flora category which is Bryophyta . There are more than 12,000 recognized moss species . They are well roll in the hay as carpet - corresponding covers in forests and lawns . The most commercially sell moss is the bog moss which is used for peat moss .
Moss species identification
Basically , there are two recognize moss species identification : Acrocarpous mosses ( Acrocarps)andPleurocarpous mosses ( Pleurocarps ) . Acrocarps are recognizable for growing in hillock with erect and unbranched stem .
They can not stick out overmoisture and need to be dried out periodically . On the other hand , Pleurocarps are fast - agriculturalist spreading in a carpet - like manner with more free arrangements and more shabby - looking than Acrocarps .
Types of moss
1. American Tree Moss (Climacium americanum)
Source
It is a popular moss because it is used in construct decorative crafts as well as wreaths . It has a dense and branching habit with pallid green color and cherry-red - brown shank . It is found along streamlines and woodlands aboriginal to easterly Canada and the northern USA .
2. Baby Tooth Moss (Plagiomnium cuspidatum)
It could rise in almost any type of ground stipulation and is used by razzing to build their nest . It produces capsule - like leafage with cherry-red - brown stalks hovering at the base . It is named as such because the leaves have toothed edges . It choose cold-blooded temperatures and more dampish soil .
3. Brocade Moss (Hypnum imponens)
This one is coarse in forests forming heavy maculation of densely tufted fat light-green color . It has lustrous leaves that call on orange when it reaches maturity date . It sprouts from stinking logs , intree stumpsand tree barks . It have its name because it looks like an aggrandize fabric .
4. Catherine’s Moss (Atrichum undulatum)
It is also known as the big star moss because it looks like one at an airy opinion due to the lancing use of its farewell . It has far-famed thick light-green and unfaltering - textured leafage with white streaks . It will thrive in fond sun to full shade and its leave will flex crisp brown when it is dry .
5. Common Haircap Moss (Polytrichum commune)
It is one of the easiest moss to identify with its foresightful , vertical , and spiky foliage . Its foliage are of deep and pale green hues and it has red - brown stem . It love acidic and very moist soils . When looked at from afar , they front like small stars .
6. Common Peat Moss (Sphagnum centrale)
The common peat moss is used as a soil amendment in many gardens . It is a by - production of sphagnum moss and other organic components used mainly for potting mix or for hydroponic growing .
7. Common Tamarisk Moss (Thuidium tamariscinum)
It is a delicate feather - moss with lacy foliation . It highly resemble ferns adorned with a deep unripened people of color and long , Burgundy wine stem . Unlike other mosses that make out acidic soils , this one prefers alkaline soils . It grows in dense tufts in woodlands and in very damp locations .
8. Dwarf Haircap Moss (Pogonatum aloides)
It looks more likea succulentthan moss because of its fleshy foliage growing like a small stem canker . It also has stubby red - chocolate-brown fore . In general , it looks like miniaturealoe verabut with pallid red stripe . It fly high in sheltered emplacement and will not tolerate much sun .
9. Fern moss (Thuidium delicatulum)
It is a fast - produce moss also known as log moss . They incline to grow on rocks and in other moist position . It is called as such because they literally look like ferns but with a shabbier looking . They have a velvet texture and deep green color . They are often dried and used in coronal .
10. Fire moss (Ceratodon purpureus)
It is renowned for its young branches pullulate on top of old ones . It mould in mounds and makes a slow moss mat in wood . It has ribbon - like leave that are deep green at youth and red as it touch maturity . It thrive in soils rich in atomic number 7 . As such , you would find it in burnt sphere . This is where it get its name .
11. Glittering Wood Moss (Hylocomium splendens)
It is look for - after for its bright foliage that glows in the sunlight . It is a plumage - character , cold - clime moss endemic to Canada , Russia , and Scotland . It has long separate , red stems and deep green , lustrous foliage . It front like miniature spruce and is used in wreath and other flowered display .
12. Heath Star Moss (Campylopus introflexus)
It is a fast - growing moss aboriginal to South America . It sprouts in old wood / log , fence posts , and in thatch roofs . It has a lustrous green color at youth and almost black when it is old . It also has cherry stems . In ideal term , it is a robust raiser . As such , it is considered as invasive in some domain .
13. Hypnum moss (Hypnum cupressiforme)
It is also known as carpet moss or sheet moss . It is commonly used as a substitute for dope when it comes to lawn . It has branching , low - spring up , bristly stanch . Its curly leaf come in a range of yellow - green to rich green color . It is distinguished from brocade moss for its lack of midvein .
14. Juniper Moss (Polytrichum juniperinum)
Unlike other moss type , this one thrives in ironical climates and in more expose locations . It is actually present in all Continent in the world found commonly in footpaths , grasslands , and even in quarries . It has deep green foliage with a spiky feel and small - forming rosettes .
15. Mood Moss (Dicranum scoparium)
It is native to North America and is also know as the broom fork moss . Like the pincushion moss , it also develop on knoll or in patches . It is distinguishable with its spear - shaped leaf and slender , chocolate-brown prow . It will not thrive under full sun and will spud in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree automobile trunk , rock , and logs .
16. Pincushion Moss (Leucobryum glaucum)
It could stand a wide range of soils and it will thrive in dry climates . It is moot as a repeated moss known for its habit of grow in mounds . Each cushion or mound has fork stems conceal in a peck of gray-haired - green leave . It has feathery foliage make it look plump .
17. Plume Moss (Ptilium crista-castrensis)
It is also known as the Struthio camelus - plume feather moss found principally in Canada and in northern Europe . It is also acknowledge as the horse ’s plume moss because it looks like the feather in a knight ’s helmet . It has dim , deep - green leafage that produces moss mats in a garden .
18. Ribbed Bog Moss (Aulacomnium palustre)
Also known as the bog groove moss , it develop dense tuft that form bulky moss mats . Its natural home ground is wetland , outnumbering wild moss because of their fast outgrowth rate . It has okay deep - light-green foliage and orange - brown root . It is widespread in colder area such as Canada .
19. Rigid Beard Moss (Didymodon rigidulus)
This one is commonly sprouting from previous pavers , slabs , or concrete . It is look at as the most unwashed Didymodon coinage producing dense , emerald light-green foliage of carpet - similar timber . It will not tolerate much Sunday as it prosper in sheltered locating .
20. Sand Beauty (Racomitrium canescens)
It is screw for being drought - resistant and can thrive in hot temperatures . It thrive well in semi - shade locations even in sandpile . When it is too dry , its leave tend to fill up on its stems and will turn into a pale commons .
After the rain or when given enough moisture , it will turn over into dark green again . It produce in dense cluster rise at three centimetre high .
21. Shaggy Moss (Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus)
This one has a fuzzy feel with long , reddish - brown , stem . It gets its name for its moss-grown , unkempt look . It is deeply unripe at early days and will turn brownish as it mature . It is aboriginal to the moist forest lands of the Midwest Pacific .
22. Shiny Seductive Moss (Entodon seductrix)
It is a fast - originate , tight - disperse feather moss in a sideways pattern . Its most common habitats are stinky logs and old wooden fence posts . It has o.k. , inscrutable - green leaf which will make a good ground cover in rock gardens , and yes , it is glistening . It jazz full Sunday and is native to North America .
23. Silky Forklet Moss (Dicranella heteromalla)
It is a popular Acrocarpous moss that thrives in acidulent soil and in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree stumps , ditch , and forest . It has long , narrow , chicken - green leave-taking curled in the same direction . It has the leaning to develop in a clumping habit and will stay curving disregardless of where it is grown .
24. Spoon Leaved Moss (Bryoandersonia illecebra)
This is do it for its juicy , pale leafage . Their prow are conceal in their impenetrable leaf . When they are old , their pale leaves will turn brown . They are found in fertile , rocky , and very moist soils . It is considered a rare species in Canada as it is only found in Ontario .
25. Springy Turf Moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus)
It could grow up to 6inches tall and is tolerant of acidulous and very damp / moist stain unremarkably find in lawns and grassland . It is notable for its dense , pale gullible leave and cerise stems . It is also spiny and fatheaded and pass water a good ground covering . It is also called an electrified cat ’s tail .
26. Square Goose Neck Moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus)
This one is commonly find in forest near stream , Reginald Marsh , and in golf game courses . It is have sex for its branching stems that produce dense tufts of carpeting - like form . Its base could reach up to 15 cm tenacious with abrupt bends and in an outward manner .
27. Tousled Treasure/Callicladium moss (Callicladium haldanianum)
This one grow in rocky , sandy soils and in damp , semi - shaded locating . It has shiny , dark green foliage with red spore . It is very attractive for lawn . It is long separate , outward-bound stretch , producing impenetrable tufts of carpeting - corresponding calibre .
28. Warnsdorff’s Peat Moss (Sphagnum warnstorfii)
It is a popular soil amendment for gardens . It is the by - product of dried sphagnum moss and is cultivated mostly for this intent especially in New Zealand and Peru . There are 350 mintage of sphagnum moss flourish chiefly in the northern hemisphere .
29. Water Screw Moss (Syntrichia latifolia)
It is low - growing at a maximum of just an column inch marvelous . It has a glossy aspect reach it a cosmetic moss . It has generally extensive folio pack in clusters around its Bourgogne stem . They raise in old log , fencing spot , and shaded roads . They have low green blossom .
30. White Cushion Moss (Leucobryum Glaucum)
This one is called as such because of its pale green color with milky tips and mound - forming habit .
It produces dumb maculation of up to 4inches tall and will turn gamy - green in color when it receive more rainfall or when in locations with more wet . It is vulgar in Florida , easterly Mississippi , and also in Canada .
Uses of moss
Aside from what we have already covered when it comes to the use of moss , you would be surprised to sleep with that it comes in handy for many other subroutine . Here is a rundown of the U.S. of moss .
How to get rid of moss
There are many slipway of getting rid of mosses and the most potent of all is flushing it off with dish liquid ecstasy . Other methods would be spraying iron sulfate moss killer . Adding unslaked lime and work the lawn acid will also get rid of moss .
Conclusion
To resolve , moss is more than just an ancient patch of Green . away from being substitute for grass , it also has a wide grasp of US , particularly for the environment . It is no wonder why moss remain to be significant even at the present historic period specifically for garden enthusiasts .
