Although quite abundant this was my first encounter with Hylocomium splendens. Branched and strongly textured it is not at all like a ball of soft fiber that we often see and is more of a mat on the forest floor.
Aka glittering woodmoss, splendid feather moss, and mountain fern moss, among its uses is a stuffer between logs in a rustic home and one of several mosses that contain compounds helpful in countering cancerous tumors. I found the combination of reddish stems and fern-like green fronds attractive.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Wonderful miniature landscape 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Rudi!
LikeLike
I’ve never seen this stuff but it’s lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here. It was a first for me also.
LikeLike
A very interesting plant. I could not tell from the photo how big the moss is. It is more like a fern? I don’t recall seeing it in the Pennsylvania mountains, but it look for it this summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
According to the USDA it is in PA. It is not very large…I’d say this frame covers about three inches top to bottom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I will be looking for it this summer. I really like mosses and the ones in PA are thick and velvety.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An effectively busy way to fill the frame.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The moss itself seemed pretty laid back.
LikeLike
I can see that this is not ordinary moss. It must feel great to walk on it with your bare feet, Steve.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know, I did not check out it’s texture, Peter. It may be soft but it seemed a little more evergreen-like to me just by its appearance.Next time I’ll check that out. It seemed unusual to me but it is said to be widespread in distribution. Something new every day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well-spotted, Steve. It is a beauty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a lot of beauty out there for us to discover. Sometimes looking down pays off. 🙂 Thanks, Eliza!
LikeLike
Pretty and useful: always a good combination. This seems to have served much the same purpose as Spanish moss in the old Cajun homes in Louisiana. It looks like it could be a William Morris design.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is pretty and I’d have a hard time tearing it up to use as chinking but if it is a choice between freezing or not then I guess I could. We used to buy wrapping paper with various floral designs similar to this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely image – and so many wonderful names!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Carol! Yes, I was sorry that I hadn’t used Glittering Woodmoss or Splendid Feather Moss as the title after I hit publish. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think I’ve seen this before. Or if I have I didn’t realize it. And I agree, it really is an attractive scene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here, Todd. I’ve walked this trail several times but had never noticed it before. From the spread of the growth I am sure it’s not a recent development. I haven’t really pursued mosses and their relatives but this has me wanting more. Thanks!
LikeLike
Very nice Steve! Enjoyed seeing your image! Never saw this before!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a first for me also. Thanks, Reed.
LikeLike
This is cool to see because it’s a very common moss here in moist forests along paths. It’s good to see a really nice image of it. I personally haven’t had such good luck photographing mosses yet but maybe I need to work harder. I like the other moss peeping through – I see that one here a lot, too, whatever it is. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is funny that I had never seen, or possibly did but not notice, this moss species as it is widespread here according to the guide book also. You can walk right by something and not see it which is frustrating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Frustrating that you didn’t see it but think of all the hidden possibilities when we keep looking. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. The more you look the more you see. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person