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Dicranella heteromalla

Silky Forklet-moss

Dicranellaceae

Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

Overview

Dicranella heteromalla is a small acrocarpous moss that forms dense, silky green to yellow-green tufts and patches. Shoots are short, about 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) tall, clothed in narrow leaves that taper gradually to long, slender points. The leaves are mostly swept to one side, giving the patch a combed, glossy look that catches the light. Spore capsules are produced freely on slender yellow to red stalks 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) long; the capsule itself is curved and held at an angle, ripening through the cooler months. Patches build up on bare, acidic ground and bind loose soil with their rhizoids. Colonies stay green year-round and recover quickly after drying. The moss is tied to lime-free, often disturbed substrates and is absent from chalky ground.

Native Range

Widespread across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America, mainly in regions with acidic soils. Grows on bare, lime-free ground such as woodland banks, ditch and path sides, heaths, the root plates of fallen trees, and disturbed sandy or peaty soil, from the lowlands to the hills.

How to Identify

Recognised by the dense, silky tufts of narrow leaves all swept strongly to one side, tapering to long, hair-like points, with a glossy green to yellow-green sheen. The freely produced curved capsules on yellow-red stalks aid identification. The one-sided leaves and acidic, bare-soil habitat separate it from upright-leaved forklet-mosses and from soil-dwelling Bryum spp. species.

Appearance

Colors

Foliage Colors

green

yellow green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green to yellow-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

• 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 Range3.5 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand peat loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Persists on bare, acidic, free-draining soil in open to lightly shaded sites with reliable moisture. It tolerates drying by becoming dormant and greening again after rain. Colonies establish quickly on freshly exposed ground, such as banks and disturbed paths, before larger plants move in. Heavy shading, lime, or a closed cover of vascular plants reduces it. It is not cultivated and appears naturally where suitable acidic, open soil is available.