BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Hylocomium splendens  | Mountain-Fern Moss 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Mountain-fern moss is a perennial, relatively large, robust moss,
occurring in wide loose patches, and often forming mats [8,14].  Stems
are 3.9 to 5.9 inches (10-15 cm) in length.  Mountain-fern moss has
tiny, long, filamentous rhizoids that can transport soil water
remarkably long vertical distances to green surface tissues [23].  The
average life span of this moss is 8 years [5].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
NO-ENTRY


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Sexual reproduction:  Mountain-fern moss reproduces sexually by spores.
These spores are wind dispersed.  The period for gametangicel (structure
containing the gametes) development for mountain-fern moss is 11 months
[34].

Vegetative reproduction:  Mountain-fern moss reproduces vegetatively by
branching laterally.  A new, readily identifiable segment is produced
each year arising from the stems of the previous year's growth in a
layered or steplike fashion [7,16].  In mountain-fern moss, the bud
which will develop into the following year's growth layer is formed at
the same time that the lateral branches are initiated in the current
year's layer, but further development is somehow delayed.  The buds do
not start to elongate until the previous segment has completed its
growth [7].  Cold treatment is not required for further development, as
buds show normal development in material brought into a growth chamber
later in the season and kept at temperatures above freezing.
Photoperiod also seems not to be a factor.  A small proportion of buds
showed some elongation in late September and October, whereas
development in the field does not usually take place until the following
May or June [7].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Mountain-fern moss is abundant and often dominant in coniferous forests
on water-shedding and water-receiving sites [18].  On such sites, this
moss often develops a mat layer that may be 7.9 to 11.8 inches (20-30
cm) thick [28].  Mountain-fern moss also occurs on ledges, humus and
decaying wood in cool, moist ravines and mountain woods from sea level
to 10,000 feet (0-3,048 m) [14].  This moss is a common moss on dune
pastures in Scotland [25].

Mountain-fern moss is restricted to areas sheltered by trees and shrubs
[7].  It requires shade, moderate water levels, and high nutrient
levels.  It is not rooted in the substrate and is nearly independent of
the substrate's nutrient and water supply.  Growth is controlled by
rainfall frequency and degree of protection from evaporation stress [7].
This moss quickly dries up when the canopy cover is not adequate to
prevent high evaporation [17].  Growth rates are highest in habitats
protected from evaporation stress, and survival is enhanced in shaded
habitats or in environments with high humidity and consistent cloud
cover [7].

Mountain-fern moss is typically found associated with the following
understory species:  salal (Gaultheria shallon), pachystima (Pachystima
myrsinites), Shreber's moss (Pleurozium schreberi), Rhytidiadelphus
boreus, big huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum), and red huckleberry
(V. parvifolium) [18].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Climax Species 

Mountain-fern moss typically occurs in stable late stages of succession.
It is very shade tolerant [7,18,27].  It will replace the
shade-intolerant lichens and often becomes the dominant ground cover in
late seral to climax stands of white spruce and black spruce [17,28,31].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
The beginning of blooming in mosses is considered to occur when one or
two archegonia (female gametophyte) open.  In Hernoesand, Sweden,
mountain-fern moss first bloomed in July.  The gametangicel developed in
May or June of the following year.  In Germany, mountain-fern moss first
bloomed in May or June and the gametangicel developed in February or May
of the following year [2].  Growth of the previous year's layer is
usually resumed in early May to mid-June.  In boreal forests, growth
rates were high in May, June, and August; growth slowed in October.
There appears to be little if any growth activity over the winter months
in high-altitude regions [7].

Related categories for Species: Hylocomium splendens | Mountain-Fern Moss