''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 horn ...
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'', and '' Taxiphyllum''.
Ecology
Some of the family species occur on the flo ...
.
The genus has
cosmopolitan distribution
In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. Such a taxon, usually a species, is said to exhibit cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitism. The ext ...
.
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 contrast ...
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, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...
.
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 that is used to produce a magnified image of an object. The lens is usually mounted in a frame with a handle. A magnifying glass can be used to focus light, such as to concentrate the sun's radiation to crea ...
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 is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular ...
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