While not all of these can be found on the UW campus, the University is still home to a wide variety of mosses. Check out our iNaturalist project to find out where we (and others) have spotted specific types of moss on campus.
Highlighted Species:
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| Source: (1) |
Common Feather Moss (Eurhynchium praelongum)
- Spread from Alaska to California
- Common on decaying coniferous tree stumps
- Leaves are dark green closer to where they attach, getting lighter/lime green towards the tips
- Leaves often moist and semi-translucent
- Has long thin brown sporophyte with a round capsule at the tip that stands straight up- are 5-12 cm
- Lots of morphological variation in the species, which can make it difficult to identify
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| Source: (1) |
Lyell’s Bristle Moss (Orthotrichum lyellii)
- Grows on tree trunks and occasionally rocks
- Dark brown/ green to lime green at tips
- Sharply pointed, long narrow leaves
- 8 ribbed
- Sporophytes are partially exposed at the tip
- Loose tufts
- Can be 3-4 cm tall
- Rarely have capsules
- Often has straight white hairs on it
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| Source: (1) |
Red Roof Moss/Fire Moss (Ceratodon purpureus)
- Most common moss in the world
- Grows on rock, sidewalks, sand, even houses
- Spreads when moist, contorts when dry
- Red when young, purple when older
- Sometimes hard to identify because the young capsules look different
- Often first to grow as pioneering species
- Handles pollution well
- Short, hair like leaves
- Occurs in every state and country
- Wind is the main method of spore dispersal
- Grows quickly after fires
Other species you may find*: Gemmabryum californicum, Dicranella schreberiana, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Hypnum circinale, Plagiothecium denticulatum, and Plagiothecium undulatum
*From documented observations in the Burke Museum's archives
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