#hypnum

Hypnum impomens, a pleurocarpous moss, or rather, a brocade pleurocarpous moss. Many guides attempt to brake up bryophytes into groupings based on form and function, sometimes even habitat preference. For mosses, the break up is done into Ascocarps(commonly standing or stalked mosses that form clumps), pleurocarps( commonly matting and creeping low lying mosses that horizontally branch), and Sphagnum groups. Brocade branching is a branching pattern that is often seen in pleurocarpous moss so it is not a good common name for the most part to call a moss “brocade moss” just purely because of the diversity of brocade branching pleurocarps. The word brocade refers to the concept of rising patterns that are intricate sewn in with golden fiber to dresses and shirts. Raised golden intricate patterns are something to me that overlaps often, like many mosses are capable of a golden microphyll tinge and a raised appearance while forming mats.  

The reason why I say commonly when referring to matting groups, is just because, there are plenty of exceptions to this; instead the definition of pleurocarps is delineate when it includes the fruiting body(carp). Pleurocarps have their spore capsules (those operculate and semi operculate capsules) capped with a double peristome( those feathery teeth things you see under a hand lense if examining the capsule), This still can be hard to dilineate though as many seem to not have noticeable double peristome. Instead, it’s best to use the two ideas combine/ or in conjunction with each other or to use a key and bring a specimen cutting home to the scope. 

 The stype/seta holding the capsule/calyptra (sporophore(phore means thing that holds) of the sporophyte(spore production stage of organism) is formed on a short branched side of the gametophytic(the leafy body) stage of the pleurocarp in question. Remember that sporophytes are 2n in this context as they have to create haploid spores(n) in order to form a gametophyte(N)  due to small leaf size, many pleurocarps require a specimen to be collected and viewed under scope to see the microphyll(foliage with one main vascular or vascular like structure) morphology to narrow down to species. This species though, is an outlier. Red stemmed brook or brocade or feather moss is fairly common and has some easily distinguishable red to redish brown features and light yellow to green microphylls. The structure is similar to knights plume Ptilium spp. in branching but it does not have whispy microphyll nor does it resemble the Thudium spp. since the branching is narrow  and condensed instead of progressing into christmas tree like growths. Pleurozium spp. and Bryhnia spp. are usually more appressed with their growth than draping and overlapping and most Helodium spp. and Hylocomium spp. are a bit more condensed with their microphyll imbrication. as for Calliergon spp. it’s more aggressively squarrose with it’s imbrication. Rhytidiadelphus spp. always seem less evenly dispersed and random with the ways they want to branch. 

I will not lie these are complicated, and Im still very much practicing the memorization of these patterns so I can I ball them properly if need be; but, at least as far as Hypnum impomens goes, there is not an issue for my region.

Either that or there are some very busy gnomes around St Arnaud braiding the moss.

Named after the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos, because it used to be used for pillow and mattress-stuffing.

A highly variable and common moss found in all continents except Antarctica, growing on tree trunks, logs, walls, rocks and other surfaces. It prefers acidic conditions and is reasonably tolerant of pollution.