Orthotrichum diaphanum
white-tipped bristle-moss
Europe, North Africa, Asia, North America
Native to North America
WaterLow
Overview
Orthotrichum diaphanum is a small cushion-forming moss that grows in neat, dark green tufts 0.2–0.6 inch (5–15 mm) tall, each leaf ending in a long, colorless, toothed hair-point that gives the cushion a frosted, white-tipped look. The lance-shaped leaves are erect and pressed to the stem when dry and spread a little when wet. It is a non-vascular plant lacking true roots and conducting tissue, attaching by rhizoids and absorbing moisture across its surface. It grows on dry, sunlit to lightly shaded surfaces, including tree bark, twigs, walls, concrete, fence posts, and exposed stone, and tolerates drought and air pollution better than many mosses, which makes it common in towns. The species is widespread across Europe and into North America, Asia, and North Africa. Immersed spore capsules with eight pale ribs sit among the upper leaves and ripen in late spring and summer. It is sensitive to constant wetness and deep shade, and is most often found on hard, well-lit surfaces that dry quickly after rain.
Native Range
Orthotrichum diaphanum is native across Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia, and North America. It grows on bark, twigs, walls, concrete, and exposed stone in dry, well-lit places, including urban and roadside sites.Suggested Uses
Used in moss displays, terraria, and rock and bonsai work where a small, hard-surface cushion is wanted. It naturally colonizes walls, fence posts, roof tiles, and tree bark in towns and along roads.How to Identify
Appearance
Bloom Information
As a moss, it produces no flowers. Spore capsules form readily, sunk among the upper leaves, and ripen in late spring and summer. New plants also grow from leaf-borne gemmae and detached fragments.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark green with white tipsGrowing Conditions
Water & Climate
Water Needs