Mosses are flowerless spore plants. They are among the oldest living plants and can live for several thousand years. They are usually only a few centimeters high and very competitive. Mosses are real pioneer plants. There are around 1,100 types of moss in Germany, but unfortunately the trend is falling. Intensive agricultural use is responsible for the decline of many species. 17 pretty types of moss are presented in the following article.
Native moss species
As pioneer plants, mosses can conquer even extreme locations and thus contribute to the colonization of new habitats. Some native species survive drought and can carry out photosynthesis even in low light and cold. Others, on the other hand, are perfect water reservoirs for a humid climate in the forest. In addition, they act as pointer plants and bioindicators as they sensitive to environmental changes react. They do not absorb water and nutrients through the roots, but through their surface. As a result, they are directly exposed to pollutants. Even if their will to survive is very strong, many native species are already threatened with extinction. They are roughly divided into hornworts, liverworts and deciduous mosses.
Hornworts
Hornworts (Anthocerotophyta) are low plants with sessile, horn-shaped spore capsules. They are sensitive to frost, so that the development of native species depends heavily on the season. Germination and growth take place in summer and autumn. In Germany they are only found rarely and only in small numbers, especially in the forest or at the edges of ponds.
Varieties with A
Field horn moss (Anthoceros agrestis)
- Pioneer species that inhabits open areas
- Moss mainly thrives on stubble fields
- also settles on patchy meadows and pond bottoms
- particularly good on moist, loamy to clayey, lime-poor substrates
- Forms rosette-shaped vegetation bodies (Thalli)
- light to pale green and multicellular
- divided neither into shoot axis nor root and leaves
- Spores are black when ripe
Source: BerndH, Anthoceros agrestis 060910d, crop from Plantopedia.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
tip: This horn moss usually occurs briefly after disturbances such as fires or dry periods.
Anthoceros neesii
This native moss is also threatened with extinction. It is only found in a few and very small, spatially separated areas. Across Germany, this is only the case at 15 locations in Hesse. There it grows on loamy stubble fields. The vegetation bodies are fleshy and yellowish-green. They have a diameter of just 0.3-0.4 millimeters.
Varieties from G - K
Yellow horn moss (Phaeoceros laevis subsp. carolinianus)
Horn-shaped spore capsules, which open when ripe, give this moss its name. In contrast to field horn moss, the mature spores are yellow. The plants themselves form small, flat, dark green rosettes with a diameter of one to two centimetres. They are mainly found on low-lime, loamy-sandy stubble and fallow fields. The yellow horn moss overwinters in the form of spores. Despite its wide distribution, this type of moss is one of the endangered species.
Source: BerndH, Phaeoceros carolinianus 011112b, cut by Katharina G., CC BY-SA 3.0
Orb horn moss (Notothylas orbicularis)
- in Europe only at a few locations in Germany and Austria
- usually on grain fields, rather rarely on maize and rape fields
- settles on loamy to clayey soils
- occurs in late summer and autumn
- short-lived horn moss
- dependent on sufficient water supply (rain).
- individual plants rather inconspicuous
- small, flat, rosette-like, with a diameter of 0.5-1.0 cm
tip: Field mosses, which also include the ball horn moss, only thrive on unploughed fields. If the field has already been ploughed, the moss cannot form mature spores.
liverworts
In the case of liverworts (Marchantiophyta), a distinction is made between lobed and leafy varieties. These types of moss have no roots and prefer more solitary locations with less competition from other plants. The wetter the location, the larger the population. Depending on the type and location, they can get quite large. In contrast to hornworts, native liverworts are more widespread, but some species are threatened with extinction.
Liverworts from B - H
Fountain Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha)
- most common liverwort
- widespread in Germany
- with simply structured thallus
- band-like in contrast to leafed varieties
- up to ten centimeters long
- not divided into stems or leaflets
- does not react to heavy metals or air pollution
- green, fleshy leaves and small brood cups above
- Moss grows along streams
- inhabits moist meadows, roots, rocks, as well as paths and paving joints
tip: The fountain liverwort does not usually need any special soil and light conditions to thrive.
Cluster-fruited Star Liverwort (Riccia sorocarpa)
This common star liverwort is an annual but rather inconspicuous rosette-shaped plant. They appear in the fall. Its light green thallus branches are forked, with a notch running their full length. Colorless, rarely red abdominal scales sit on the underside. It thrives on sandy-loamy fields, fallow land, on muddy banks of water and on garden paths.
Source: Schokoanna, Riccia sorocarpa 120109, crop from Plantopedia.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
Varieties from V - Z
Differentleaf comb moss (Lophocolea heterophylla)
This largely unrivaled pioneer moss is a more common and widespread species of moss. They develop flat, extensive, yellowish to grass-green coverings. They are divided into small individual leaves and stems. They are only loosely branched or not branched at all. The rung is up to three centimeters long. Brood bodies are sometimes formed in the tips of the leaves. This liverwort inhabits fresh and dead deciduous and coniferous wood, humus-rich soils in the forest as well as rock and silicate rock.
Source: Bernd Haynold, Lophocolea heterophylla 200108, crop from Plantopedia.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
tip: The different-leaved comb moss is often found together with the georgos moss (Tetraphis pellucida), a leaf moss.
Wavy spade moss (Scapania undulata)
- forms dense and sometimes large lawns
- light to dark green, occasionally also black or reddish brown
- Stem few or unbranched, ascending to erect, up to 10 cm high
- small leaflets in two rows, almost rectangular
- oval lower lobes about twice as long as wide
- rectangular to oval upper lobes significantly smaller
- both toothed towards the tip or smooth-edged
- grows on permanently moist or flooded, lime-free soil
- on rocks as well as on streams and waterfalls
Source: BerndH, Scapania undulata 110812a, rotation and cropping from Plantopedia.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
Bidentate comb moss (Lophocolea bidentata)
- belongs to the leafy liverworts
- tolerates drought very well
- best known as a lawn weed
- Moss completely harmless to the lawn
- widespread moss species
- prefers to grow in damp and shady locations
- often on rotting wood
- also inhabits embankments created by silviculture
- Plantlets yellowish to whitish-green, little branched
- two to three millimeters wide and up to five centimeters long
- flank leaves divided into two long, acuminate triangular lobules
- Leaves have a tooth on the outer edge, on the underside of the shoots
Source: HermannSchachner, Lophocolea bidentata (b, 144725-474718) 3624, crop from Plantopedia.de, CC0 1.0
mosses
The varieties of mosses (Bryophyta) are real all-rounders and survivors. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats and climate zones, grow on soil, rock and wood. These mosses can prevent erosion and have a positive effect on the water and nutrient balance. In Germany, mosses are the most common types of moss.
Mosses from B - G
Brook short box moss (Brachythecium rivulare)
A representative is the Bach short box moss. Due to its creeping and tree-like habit, it forms loose but strong, three to ten centimeters high, yellow-green to pale green lawn carpets. Leaved, loosely fitting, secondary stems that branch out in tufts emerge from leafless stems. The have up to 2.5 mm long, triangular-ovoid leaflets. The Bach Kurzbüchsenmoos is generally found on flowing water, but preferably on spring streams.
Common white moss (Leucobryum glaucum)
White moss is mainly known from the handicraft and decoration sector. The small plants grow more or less in a hemispherical shape and form bulging, light to blue-green cushions. They are blue-green in damp weather and almost white in dry weather, hence the name white moss. In the wild, it can be found in humid areas, e.g. in closed spruce forests. It's in Germany under conservation.
Source: Aorg1961, Bielistka siwa 1, crop from Plantopedia.de, CC BY-SA 4.0
Golden Maidenhair Moss (Polytrichum commune)
Polytrichum commune is a bit out of line. Because with growth heights of up to half a meter, it is one of the giants among the native moss species. Its star-shaped leaves and red-orange spore capsules, which sit on long, reddish capsule stalks, make it a decorative eye-catcher. The four-edged capsules have a yellow-brown, bell-shaped cap. The winter clay moss grows in meadows, in the forest and in moors.
Green Goblin Moss (Buxbaumia viridis)
The green goblin moss differs greatly in appearance from other mosses. The male part of the plant grows underground. The aerial, chlorophyll-containing, female part consists exclusively of orange-brown, up to 10 mm long stalks with the spore capsules. It grows preferably in shady, permanently humid coniferous forests, where it settles on rotten tree stumps and moldy humus.
Source: Bernd Haynold, Buxbaumia viridis 20140416, cut from Plantopedia.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
Varieties of P - S
Cushion moss (Grimmia pulvinata)
- hemispherical, miceskin-like, mostly ice-grey cushions
- Plantlets actually blue-green to dark green
- an ice gray shimmer covers upholstery like a veil
- Responsible, so-called glass hairs, which are reminiscent of mouse fur
- individual stems richly branched
- moss capsules sitting on long, curved stems
- grows on dry stone walls, roofs, concrete and asphalt
Silver pear moss (Bryum argenteum)
- particularly robust and adaptable
- good tread resistance, withstands longer dry periods without any problems
- Plantlets silvery, worm-like leaves
- less than an inch tall
- As an indicator plant, it indicates a high level of nitrogen input
- therefore very nitrogen-loving
- Occurrence in inner cities, on paving stones, pavement slabs and wall tops
- at various soil locations or in cracks in the asphalt
Scattered Wreath Moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus)
This type of moss is rather unpopular with hobby gardeners because it prefers to grow in lawns. It can also be found on the edges of forests and paths. It is one of the few mosses that thrive on nutrient-rich but poor substrates. The yellowish, pale or olive green plants are vigorous, irregularly branched and form ascending stalks. They reach growth heights of up to ten centimetres. The sparsely leafed trunks with tips that are bent far back carry long, pointed leaves.
Source: HermannSchachner, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (a, 144729-474806) 5979, crop from Plantopedia.de, CC0 1.0
peat moss
There are about 35 species of these mosses (sphagnum) in Germany. Without them there would be no raised bogs, because they play a key role in their formation. The individual species differ in shape, color and branching of the stems and branches. The part of the plants covered by the water dies, but they continue to grow upwards. The dead plant material is decomposed and eventually turned into peat. Over time, the peat layer gets higher and higher until a raised bog is formed.
tip: One of the most common and widespread varieties of peat moss is the narrow-leaved peat moss Sphagnum angustifolium.