# Catherine's moss (*Atrichum undulatum*)

Catherine's moss is a soft, green plant that loves to grow in shady places. It makes the ground look fluffy and is often found in forests and gardens.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Catherine's moss](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Wellenbl%C3%A4ttriges_Katharinenmoos.jpg&width=800)

Photo: User:MarkusHagenlocher, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wellenbl%C3%A4ttriges_Katharinenmoos.jpg)

## Appearance

The Catherine's moss is a vibrant green plant that forms lush, wavy carpets. Its slender, upright stems are covered in numerous frilly, tooth-edged leaves that give it a distinctive wavy appearance, making it easily distinguishable from smoother mosses.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Bryophyta
- **Class:** Polytrichopsida
- **Order:** Polytrichales
- **Family:** Polytrichaceae
- **Genus:** Atrichum

## Interesting facts

- Catherine's moss is one of the oldest types of plants, with ancestors dating back millions of years!
- It doesn't have true roots, instead using tiny threads called rhizoids to anchor itself to surfaces.
- Its leafy stems often twist and curl when dry, only to unfurl beautifully when water returns.
- Mosses like this act like miniature forests, creating unique habitats for microscopic animals.

## Special abilities

- **Water Sponge:** Catherine's moss can absorb and hold a lot of water, which helps it stay moist in dry spells and provides a damp home for tiny creatures.
- **Spore Shooter:** Catherine's moss reproduces by releasing tiny spores from special capsules, allowing it to spread and colonize new damp areas.
- **Soil Stabilizer:** Catherine's moss grows in dense mats that help prevent soil erosion, protecting the ground from wind and rain.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-10 cm
- **Spread:** 5-30 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs occasionally graze on its soft leaves.
- **Shelter:** [Eurasian Wren](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-wren) (*Troglodytes troglodytes*) — Wrens use moss to line their nests for insulation.
- **Shelter:** Water bear (*Hypsibius dujardini*) — Microscopic water bears live within its moist cushions.

## Traits

- [Nonvascular](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nonvascular): This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

It's safe to touch, but be gentle and don't pull it out.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Catherine's moss?

Compare growth form, branching, tiny leaves and any spore capsules. Mosses, liverworts and lichens can share a spot but are very different organisms. Moss Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Catherine's moss?

2-10 cm

### How wide does Catherine's moss spread?

5-30 cm

### Is Catherine's moss edible?

No

### Is Catherine's moss toxic?

None

### What is Catherine's moss's lifecycle?

Perennial

### Where is Catherine's moss usually found?

Forests

## Where to spot

- [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Catherine's moss: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/catherines-moss)