Polytrichum formosum Hedw., 1801

Common names

🇬🇧 Bank Haircap
🇫🇷 Polytric élégant

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Setaphytes
Clade: Bryophytes
Class: Bryopsida
Subclass: Bryidae
Order: Polytrichales
Family: Polytrichaceae
Genus: Polytrichum
Species: Polytrichum formosum

Presence

Present.

Conservation status

Red List (Europe): LC Least Concern

Notes

Possible confusion with P. commune Hedw., 1801, which has taller stems (10-20 cm), while P. formosum has shorter stems (5-10 cm). P. commune is mostly found in acidic and wet environments, such as bogs.

Possible confusion with P. juniperinum Hedw., 1801, which has leaves with entire margins - except for the tip - and a red-brown tip, while P. formosum has leaves with toothed margins and a whitish tip.

Found on the soil in woodland.

Photographs

img/polytrichum-formosum-5.webp — *Polytrichum formosum*

img/polytrichum-formosum.webp — *Polytrichum formosum*

img/polytrichum-formosum-2.webp — *Polytrichum formosum*

img/polytrichum-formosum-3.webp — *Polytrichum formosum*

img/polytrichum-formosum-4.webp — *Polytrichum formosum*

img/polytrichum-formosum-6.webp — *Polytrichum formosum* - Leaf base

img/polytrichum-formosum-7.webp — *Polytrichum formosum* - Leaf tip

img/polytrichum-formosum-8.webp — *Polytrichum formosum* - Leaf margin

Sources

Atherton, I., Bosanquet, S., & Lawley, M. (2010). Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland: a field guide (p. 320). British Bryological Society.
Sabovljevic, M. (2019). Polytrichum formosum (Europe assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2019. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/88282108/88382640