Learning the language of moss
Learning the language of...
Polytrichum juniperum
Named after the conifer that it so resembles.
Habitat
P. juniperum is a distinctively shaped pioneer species that thrives in exposed, acidic soils: dry heaths, forestry tracks, quarry spoil and even gravel. Unlike its cousin P. commune, it prefers well-drained, open ground and is often one of the first mosses to colonise disturbed sites. It’s common across Ireland and the UK, especially in upland and lowland heath.
How to recognise
This is a smaller, more compact moss than P. commune, typically reaching 3–5 cm in height. Its shoots are unbranched and upright, with evenly spaced, grey-green leaves that end in a distinctive reddish-brown tip. When dry, the leaf margins roll tightly inward, giving the whole shoot a sharply pointed, glaucous look, almost like a miniature juniper sprig, which is where it gets its name. In spring, male plants produce bright reddish-orange leaf clusters at the shoot tips, resembling tiny flowers. The capsules are 4-angled and sit atop reddish setae.