Pseudisothecium stoloniferum (Cat's Tail Moss)

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Pseudisothecium spp.

Europe, Macaronesia, and western Asia

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

Overview

Pseudisothecium spp. is a genus of pleurocarpous mosses in the family Lembophyllaceae, comprising species formerly placed in Isothecium spp., including Pseudisothecium myosuroides and Pseudisothecium alopecuroides. Plants form wefts or dense tufts from creeping primary stems that give rise to erect to arching secondary stems and branches 1-6 inches (2.5-15 cm) long, often tree-like (dendroid) in branching. Leaves are 0.04-0.10 inch (1-2.5 mm) long, egg-shaped to lance-shaped, tapering to a slender toothed point, with a single midrib extending about two-thirds of the leaf length. Stem leaves and branch leaves differ in shape, the branch leaves narrower. Foliage is green to yellow-green, becoming darker and somewhat glossy in shade, and the shoots curve or droop when dry. Sporophytes bear erect to slightly curved cylindrical capsules 0.06-0.10 inch (1.5-2.5 mm) long on red-brown setae 0.3-0.8 inch (8-20 mm) long, maturing spores in winter to spring. Colonies build up over several years and persist on stable bark and rock. Growth slows or stops during dry spells, when shoots shrink against the substrate, and resumes after rain.

Native Range

Species of Pseudisothecium spp. occur mainly in Europe, Macaronesia, and western Asia, and the genus is most diverse in oceanic and suboceanic climates. Plants grow on tree trunks and exposed roots, shaded and exposed rock, boulders, and old walls, from coastal woodland to montane slopes.

Suggested Uses

Seen on trees, boulders, and stonework in woodland and gardens as a spontaneous colonizer, and occasionally used in shaded moss features and terrariums on bark or rock. Establishment depends on humidity and shade, and colonies thin in dry, exposed positions.

How to Identify

Identified by wefts of creeping stems giving rise to erect, often tree-like secondary shoots whose tips curve when dry. Leaves are egg-shaped to lance-shaped with a single midrib reaching about two-thirds of the way to the toothed tip. The differing shapes of stem and branch leaves, together with the dendroid branching, separate Pseudisothecium spp. from feather mosses with uniform leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Width/Spread4" - 1'

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

Tolerates up to 4 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 Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

rocky

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Colonies persist in humid, shaded to partly exposed sites on bark, rock, and walls. Steady moisture and high humidity support growth; shoots dry and contract during drought and revive after wetting. Strong sun with low humidity reduces colony vigor and causes browning. Fragments and detached shoots re-establish on stable bark or stone kept moist and shaded. Plants are sensitive to sustained air pollution.