© Marcin Klisz, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Overview
Pseudanomodon is a genus of pleurocarpous mosses in the family Neckeraceae, represented chiefly by Pseudanomodon attenuatus, a species long placed in Anomodon. Plants form loose to dense mats, with creeping primary stems 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) long that attach to the substrate by rhizoids and give rise to ascending secondary branches. Branch tips taper to slender, often whip-like points 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) long that root where they touch and produce new plants. Leaves are 0.04-0.12 inch (1-3 mm) long, tongue-shaped to lance-shaped with a single midrib reaching near the tip, and curl inward when dry, expanding and turning dull green to yellow-green when moist. The leaf cells are small, rounded, and densely covered with low papillae, giving the foliage an opaque texture. Sporophytes are infrequent: when present they bear erect cylindrical capsules 0.08-0.16 inch (2-4 mm) long on reddish setae, releasing spores in late spring to summer. Colonies spread laterally over years rather than seasons and persist on stable surfaces for long periods. Mat growth is slow and depends on consistent humidity; colonies shrink and brown during prolonged drying and recover after rewetting.
Native Range
Pseudanomodon attenuatus occurs across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including eastern North America, Europe, and parts of temperate Asia. It grows on the bases of deciduous trees, shaded limestone and other calcareous rock, and occasionally on soil over rock in moist forests, from lowlands to montane elevations.Suggested Uses
Found in woodland and on shaded stonework as a bark and rock colonizer, and sometimes added to shaded moss plantings and terrariums on rock or bark substrates. Establishment depends on steady humidity and shade, and colonies decline in exposed or polluted sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Width/Spread4" - 1'
Colors
Foliage Colors
Fall Foliage Colors
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dull green to yellow-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 3 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