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Blandow's Helodium Moss (Helodium blandowii)

Helodium blandowii, commonly known as Blandow's helodium moss, Blandow's tamarisk-moss, Blandow's bogmoss, or Blandow's feathermoss, is a rare moss species.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Helodium blandowii (F. Weber & D. Mohr) Warnst.
• Family: Helodiaceae
• Kingdom: (Implied, likely Plantae given it's a moss)
• Division: Bryophyta
• Genus: Helodium Warnst.
• Synonyms/Alternative Names: Hypnum blandowii; Thuidium blandowii; Helodium paludosum (likely a misidentification or previous classification).
• Varieties:
  • Helodium blandowii var. blandowii (Web. & Mohr) Warnst.
  • Helodium blandowii var. elodioides
  • Helodium blandowii var. helodioides (Ren. & Card. in Röll) Crum, Steere & Anderson (HEBLH)

Distribution and Habitat

• Helodium blandowii has been found in several sites in California, primarily on the east side.
• It is also found in the Western U.S., including Oregon.
• Other locations include Slovakia, specifically in Hnileck dolina Valley, Volovsk vrchy Hills and Poprad Basin.
• Historically recorded in Cheshire and Yorkshire, but now considered extinct in Britain.

Ecological Role

• A glacial relic species, indicating its survival from previous ice age conditions.
• Included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 2B.3 (rare).

Morphological Characteristics

• A mat-forming pleurocarp with very pinnate branches.
• Oblong acuminate plicate or striate leaves with a single (unspecified) feature.
• Shoots are green, or dark brown with a yellow hue.

Quirky Facts

• Helodium blandowii has been found in several sites primarily on the east side in California.

Further Information

• Encyclopedia of Life
• Biopix: http://www.biopix.com/helodium-blandowii_photo-96595
• ResearchGate
• Tropicos