Syntrichia ruraliformis
sand-hill screw-moss
Europe, North Africa, western Asia, North America
SunFull Sun
Overview
Syntrichia ruraliformis is a moss of sand dunes and dry calcareous sand, forming loose to dense cushions and turfs of upright shoots 0.4-2 inches (1-5 cm) tall. Leaves are tongue-shaped, 0.1-0.2 inch (2.5-5 mm) long, with margins rolled under, ending in a long, colourless, toothed hair-point that can be as long as the green part of the leaf. When dry the leaves twist and curl against the stem, and when wet they spread and curve back, the silvery hair-points giving dry colonies a greyish, frosted cast. The green leaf surface is densely covered with tiny bumps (papillae). Spore capsules are cylindrical, 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) long, with a long spirally twisted lid, carried on a red-brown stalk and ripening in spring. The moss grows on open, sunny sand where it binds loose surfaces, tolerating drought, heat, and full exposure, and reviving quickly after rain. It declines where taller vegetation closes over the sand.
Native Range
Widespread across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, and found in North America. Grows on coastal sand dunes, dune grassland, and dry calcareous or sandy ground inland, in open sunny positions from sea level to lower mountain slopes.Suggested Uses
Used in dune restoration and sand stabilization, where it binds loose surfaces and reduces erosion. Grown on open sandy ground and in sand-bedded green roofs and troughs in full sun. Forms low grey-green crusts on bare sand rather than cover in shade or rich soil.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Width/Spread2" - 8"
Bloom Information
Reproduces by spores rather than flowers. Cylindrical capsules with a long twisted lid ripen in spring and release spores in late spring. Capsules form in some years and not others, and colonies spread mainly by vegetative growth and fragments.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green with silvery hair-pointsGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on open, dry, sandy or calcareous ground, tolerating heat, drought, and salt spray on coastal dunes. Takes no soil in the ordinary sense, absorbing water from rain and dew across its leaves and surviving long dry spells in a curled, dormant state. Revives within seconds of wetting and resumes growth when moisture returns. On stabilized dunes and bare sand it forms binding crusts that reduce surface erosion. No feeding or pruning is involved. It is shaded out where grasses and taller plants close over the sand.Pruning
No pruning is required or practiced. Cushions and fragments can be pressed onto bare moist sand to start new colonies, where they anchor and spread over several weeks. Pieces kept on open sand establish, while those buried or shaded die back.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing