''Hypnum'' is a genus of
mosses
Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta ('' sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and ho ...
belonging to the family
Hypnaceae
Hypnaceae is a large family of moss with broad worldwide occurrence in the class Bryopsida, subclass Bryidae and order Hypnales. Genera include ''Hypnum'', ''Phyllodon (plant), Phyllodon'', and ''Taxiphyllum''.
Ecology
Some of the family species ...
.
The genus has
cosmopolitan distribution
In biogeography, a cosmopolitan distribution is the range of a taxon that extends across most or all of the surface of the Earth, in appropriate habitats; most cosmopolitan species are known to be highly adaptable to a range of climatic and en ...
.
A
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...
sometimes used for ''Hypnum'' moss is "carpet moss".
Distribution
''Hypnum'' species are found on all continents except for
Antarctica
Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...
.
Species are typically found in temperate regions.
Habitat
''Hypnum'' species are typically found in moist forest areas on rotting logs, while some species are aquatic.
Species can also be found living on soil, rocks, and live trees.
Identification
Identifying moss species in the field to the genus ''Hypnum'' by using a
hand lens
A magnifying glass is a convex lens—usually mounted in a frame with a handle—that is used to produce a magnification, magnified image of an object. A magnifying glass can also be used to focus light, such as to concentrate the Sun's radiati ...
is considered quite feasible since most ''Hypnum'' species share common features with one another.
A very useful defining characteristic of ''Hypnum'' mosses are their leaves which are often
falcate
The following terms are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade is divided into two or more leaflets) ...
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