SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 9080.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "9080" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

campylopus moss

Scientific Name: Campylopus zygodonticarpus

Family: Dicranaceae

Category: Moss

Growth: Nonvascular

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Campylopus introflexus: Heath Star-moss

Campylopus introflexus, commonly known as Heath Star-moss, is a species of moss belonging to the family Dicranaceae.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Campylopus introflexus (Hedw.) Brid.
  • Family: Dicranaceae
  • Order: Dicranales
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Common Names: Heath Star-moss
  • Synonyms: (Information regarding synonyms was referenced in the source text but not fully provided.)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the southern hemisphere, specifically southern South America.
  • An invasive species in Europe and North America, first recorded in Europe in 1941 and North America in 1975.
  • Adapted to acidic and nutrient-poor sandy soils with sparse vegetation.
  • Found in coastal dune systems, disturbed peatlands, and geothermal areas.
  • Specific locations mentioned include Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia), Netherlands (Overijssel), Denmark, Lithuania, Russia (Kaliningrad Province) and Iceland (Reykjanes).

Ecological Role

  • An invasive species that endangers natural vegetation in central Europe and other regions.
  • Its encroachment can impact the activity of other species.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Forms dark green or almost black patches that appear hoary when dry.
  • Stems may grow up to 5 cm long.
  • Dry hair points are reflexed.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Can form moss carpets that affect seed performance and seedling growth of other plants.
  • Subject to fungal diversity and seasonal succession in disturbed peatlands.

Quirky Facts

  • The rapid spread of Campylopus introflexus within newly colonized continents, such as Europe (1941) and North America (1975), has been widely noted.

Further Information

  • USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
  • Encyclopedia of Life.