VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Hylocomium splendens  | Mountain-Fern Moss 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Mountain-fern moss is occasionally eaten by deer and caribou [15,22].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 



COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
In the past mountain-fern moss has been used for covering dirt floors
and lining fruit and vegetable storage boxes [25].  Mountain-fern moss
is still used for chinking log structures in Alaska.  The wet moss is
pressed into cracks between logs using a wooden chisel.  When the moss
is dry, it remains compressed and stays green for the life of the cabin.
In many ways it is preferable to modern material [21].  Mountain-fern
moss is used by florists to form banks of green in show windows [6].

Mountain-fern moss is used in locating pollution sources and determining
levels of pollution of heavy metals in the environment [3].  Mountain
fern moss absorbs metals over its entire surface and is little
influenced by variations in substrate mineralization.  Close to the
source, this moss accumulates high levels of metals [25].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
It has been shown that tree canopy removal will kill mountain-fern moss,
but removal of only the shrub canopy has a less severe effect [7].
Mountain-fern moss growth is better in undisturbed areas than in
disturbed areas.  Moss growth is so closely balanced with its
microclimate that even the removal of a rather open shrub layer can have
a measurable effect on growth rates [7].

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