Typical Species You May Find on Our Land:
WOODLAND GROUND
Common Tamarisk-Moss ( uidium tamariscinum)
Feathery, at-looking fans, often golden-orange colour.
WOODLAND GROUND
Glittering Wood-Moss (Hylocomium splendens)
In acid woods, has red stem and leaves look very at. It glitters when wet!
WOODLAND GROUND
Greater Fork-Moss (Dicranum majus)
A big, obvious moss if you spot it. All the leaves curl in the same direction, like huge eyebrows!
WOODLAND GROUND
Little Shaggy-Moss (Rhytidiadelphus loreus)
Looks like lots of pipe-cleaners, red stem.
ON TRUNKS OR BRANCHES
Forked Veilwort (Metzgeria furcata)
A liverwort (close relative of mosses). Grows tight to bark. Lime-green colour.
ON TRUNKS OR BRANCHES
Swan’s-Neck yme Moss (Mnium hornum)
In acid woods, young leaves bright apple green, older ones very dark and dull.
ON TRUNKS OR BRANCHES
Cypress-Leaved Plait Moss (Hypnum cupressiforme)
Deep, spongy cushions on dead wood, looks as if it is plaited.
Swan’s-Neck Thyme Moss
Forked Veilwort
IN WET WOODLAND AREAS
Pointed Spear-Moss (Calliergonella cuspidata)
Touch the tips – they are hard, like mini-spears.
IN WET WOODLAND AREAS
Common Haircap (Polytrichum commune)
Large wiry moss, grows in clumps. Looks like spiky bottle-brushes.
IN WET WOODLAND AREAS
Hart’s-Tongue yme-Moss (Plagiomnium undulatum)
Often pale green, wavy edges to leaves, on woodland oor.
Hart’s-Tongue Thyme-Moss
ON WALLS
Wall Screw-Moss (Tortula muralis)
Each leaf has a long thin ‘hair’ sticking out at the tip. e fruits are often what gets noticed.
ON WALLS
Capillary read-Moss (Bryum capillare)
Makes a tight green cushion. If fruiting, the nodding fruits are striking.
ON WALLS
Anomalous Bristle-Moss (Orthotrichum anomalum)
A loose cushion growing on stone. Capsules held clear of the leaves.
ON WALLS
Intermediate Screw-Moss (Syntrichia montana)
Makes a cushion. Quite small, rounded leaves, with a huge toothed hair-point sticking out.
ON WALLS
Silver-Moss (Bryum argenteum)
Looks white when dry, silver-green wet. Shoots cigar-shaped and tightly packed.
ON WALLS
Grey-Cushioned Grimmia (Grimmia pulvinata)
Very hoary-grey when dry. Fruits turn around and bury themselves in the leaves.
NEUTRAL GRASSLAND
Springy Turf-Moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus)
Tips of stems starry. Leaves curled back on themselves.
NEUTRAL GRASSLAND
Redshank (Ceratodon purpureus)
Easy to spot when fruiting – the masses of red upright capsules stand out from a distance.
NEUTRAL GRASSLAND
Neat Feather-Moss (Pseudoscleropodium purum)
Chunky, green stems, pointed shoots look almost juicy! Little ‘blob’ on end of branches.
NEUTRAL GRASSLAND
Common Smoothcap (Atrichum undulatum)
Leaves look spiky, a bit see-through, and often wavy.
Springy Turf-Moss
Neat Feather-Moss
LIMESTONE GRASSLAND
Yellow Feather-Moss (Homalothecium lutescens)
Is really yellow, leaves are very thin and sharp-looking.
LIMESTONE GRASSLAND
Comb-Moss (Ctenidium molluscum)
e paler tips of each branch catch the eye, but this is a small moss.
LIMESTONE GRASSLAND
Crisped Neckera (Neckera crispa)
Often next to rocks. e large at leaves are very wavy, beautiful up close!
LIMESTONE GRASSLAND
Big Shaggy-Moss (Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus)
Large plant, broad leaves stand out in every direction. Looks scru y when dry.
Comb-Moss
Yellow Feather-Moss
Crisped Neckera
ACID GRASSLAND & HEATH
Broom Fork-Moss (Dicranum scoparium)
Yellow-green to dark green narrow leaves with a long ne tip. Grows in cushions or large patches.
ACID GRASSLAND & HEATH
Juniper Haircap (Polytrichum juniperinum)
Mat-forming. e male sex organs look like owers (but aren’t!).
ACID GRASSLAND & HEATH
Silky Forklet-Moss (Dicranella heteromalla)
On dry peaty banks. Leaves small and all curled same direction: looks ‘neat’.
ACID GRASSLAND & HEATH
Woolly Fringe-Moss (Racomitrium lanuginosum)
Forms low, but extensive, patches of grey, woolly plants.
Juniper Haircap
ON WET GROUND
Overleaf Pellia (Pellia epiphylla)
A Liverwort (not a moss) – body is a at pancake, not a leaf.
ON WET GROUND Sphagnum (Bog-Mosses) (Sphagnum platyphyllum)
Many di erent species, all called Sphagnum. Amazing plants that hold water. Antiseptic, once used as wound dressings.
ON WET GROUND
Tree-Moss (Climacium dendroides)
Look like miniature juicy palm trees, on top of a thinner single stem.
Want to learn more about our land and the species you can nd there? Look out for our other guides!
www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/property-guides
Sphagnum Moss
About Friends of the Lake District
Established in 1934, Friends of the Lake District is a membership-based charity committed to looking after the landscapes of the Lake District and Cumbria.
&
www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/our-land
We own land in order to enhance the landscape; carry out practical conservation projects; increase access and model best practice in land management. Our land includes valleys, native woodlands, moorlands, uplands and commons, and is open to the public for all to enjoy.
Scan here to become a member today. Join us and over 6,000 people who are passionate about this magni cent place.
For more information on our land and volunteering opportunities, or how to join us and help to maintain these beautiful Cumbrian landscapes, please get in touch or sign up to our email newsletter.
Friends of the Lake District, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7SS
Tel: 01539 720788 | Email: info@fld.org.uk
Website: www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk Friends of the Lake District @friendsoflakes
Registered Charity Number: 1100759
