Dicranella heteromalla (Silky Forklet-moss)

Dicranella spp.

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

Overview

Dicranella spp. is a genus of small mosses in the family Dicranellaceae, with around 100 species found on every continent. They are pioneer mosses that colonise bare, disturbed mineral soil such as clay banks, ditch sides, path edges, field margins, and recently cleared ground, often forming low green to yellow-green turfs. The slender, upright shoots are usually only 0.1-0.8 inch (3-20 mm) tall and carry narrow, tapering leaves that in many species curve to one side, giving the turf a combed look. Spore capsules are produced freely on wiry stalks, often yellow or reddish, lifting the cylindrical, sometimes curved or ribbed capsules above the leaves; abundant spores let the mosses spread quickly onto new bare ground. They grow in open to lightly shaded sites and are short-lived colonists, fading as larger plants and other mosses take over the soil. Several species are common on acidic soils, while others occupy neutral or base-rich clays. Because they are tiny and weedy they are rarely cultivated, appearing on their own on soil in gardens, pots, and greenhouses. Like all mosses they have no true roots and absorb water through their surfaces.

Native Range

Cosmopolitan, occurring on bare, disturbed mineral soil across all continents, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the margins of Antarctica.

Suggested Uses

Of mainly botanical interest as a soil-colonising moss rather than a cultivated plant. The turfs can stabilise the surface of bare, damp soil on banks and disturbed ground until larger plants establish.

How to Identify

Small mosses forming low green to yellow-green turfs on bare soil, with slender upright shoots 0.1-0.8 inch (3-20 mm) tall. The narrow, tapering leaves often curve to one side, giving a combed appearance. Cylindrical spore capsules, sometimes curved or ribbed, are held on wiry yellow to reddish stalks above the leaves.

Appearance

Colors

Foliage Colors

green

yellow green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

As mosses, Dicranella spp. do not flower and reproduce by spores. Spore capsules form freely, ripening mainly in autumn, winter, and spring depending on species and climate. The capsules release abundant spores that colonise fresh bare soil.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green to yellow-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 2-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

These pioneer mosses grow on bare, damp mineral soil in open to lightly shaded sites, in acidic to neutral or base-rich clay with a pH of about 4.5-6.5 depending on species. They need exposed soil with little competition and steady surface moisture, and they fade as vascular plants and larger mosses close over the ground. No planting or feeding is involved; they arrive on their own from wind-blown spores. Compaction and freshly disturbed soil favour them. Heavy shade, deep litter, and dense plant cover cause them to disappear.

Pruning

No pruning is carried out. The turfs are left undisturbed, and unwanted patches on soil or in pots can be scraped or lifted away by hand. The mosses regrow from spores wherever bare soil is exposed.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic

Mosses