The huge range of leaf patterns adds to the fascination of studying mosses.

The sprawling Crane's-bill Moss Atrichum selwyni

The colours and common names of mosses are also very interesting. On the left is a moss found beside roads and so called Roadside Rock Moss. The shiny one on the right is called Shining Hookeria Moss.

Mosses which inhabit very moist areas like rainforests are capable of growing over large areas, covering anything in their way.

They can spread over rocks or fallen trees creating an amazing lush, green carpets.

They can spread over rocks or fallen trees creating an amazing lush, green carpets.

Some mosses love to spread themselves out. This is Broom Moss, Dicranum scoparium.

When wet or fresh after a rain, Plume Moss lifts itself up like a plume or feather that soldiers once wore in their hats.

There is an incredible variation in the different species of mosses.
This is  Stair-step Moss, Hylocomium splendens.

Some mosses have male and female plants and these two images are of male mosses:
Badge Moss, Plagiomnium insigne, (left) and Juniper Haircap Moss, Polytrichum juniperinum (right).

This moss has one of the strangest common names: Electrified Cat’s Tail Moss, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus. You can see from the close-up on the right how that name might have come to be!

The common names, fascinating as they are, vary from region to region and book to book. For example, some people call this moss Goose-necked Moss. To make sure everyone is clear regarding exactly which moss (or any other organism for that matter) is being referred to the scientific name, this case Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus. is always used.

Whether they are spreading around the trunks of trees like the feather-like Douglas’ Neckera, Neckera douglasii, (left) or whether they spreading across the forest floor like Coiled-leaf Moss, Hypnum circinale, (right) covering the ground, mosses prove to be amazing plants.

Next time you’re in the forest you may want to pay closer attention to these wonderful marvels!