# rough goose neck moss (*Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus*)

Rough goose neck moss is a soft, green plant that grows on the ground and on tree trunks. It looks like little green pillows and helps keep the forest moist and cool.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Forests

![rough goose neck moss](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hylocomiadelphus_triquetrus_116930843.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Ellyne Geurts, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hylocomiadelphus_triquetrus_116930843.jpg)

## Appearance

The rough goose neck moss has stiff, triangular stems that create a rugged, matted appearance. Its leaves are sharply pointed, giving it a somewhat prickly feel, and its color ranges from vibrant green to yellowish-green. It forms dense, carpet-like patches.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Bryophyta
- **Class:** Bryopsida
- **Order:** Hypnales
- **Family:** Hylocomiaceae
- **Genus:** Hylocomiadelphus

## Interesting facts

- Its stiff, pointy leaves make it feel surprisingly rough and prickly, not soft!
- This moss grows upwards in distinct layers, almost like a miniature, living staircase!
- This moss helps young tree seedlings sprout by making a moist, protective bed.
- When it dries out, its stems curl into a "goose neck" shape to protect itself!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Survivor:** Rough goose neck moss can dry out completely, then "wake up" and turn green again when water returns!
- **Erosion Buster:** This moss forms dense, interlocking mats that help hold soil in place, stopping it from washing away.
- **Tiny Treehouse:** Its complex, branched stems create miniature forests, providing important shelter for tiny insects and other small creatures.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-20 cm
- **Spread:** 10-50 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial

## Ecological connections

- **Shelter:** Springtail (*Collembola albifrons*) — Tiny insects hide and forage within its dense mats.
- **Symbiotic with:** Dog Lichen (*Peltigera canina*) — Often grows alongside the moss on forest floors.
- **Shelter:** Masked Shrew (*Sorex cinereus*) — Shrews use moss for nesting material and cover.

## Traits

- [Mycorrhizal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mycorrhizal): This trait describes a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and the roots of a plant, benefiting both organisms.
- [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 remember to be gentle with plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify rough goose neck 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 rough goose neck moss?

5-20 cm

### How wide does rough goose neck moss spread?

10-50 cm

### Is rough goose neck moss edible?

No

### Is rough goose neck moss toxic?

None

### What is rough goose neck moss's lifecycle?

Perennial

### Where is rough goose neck moss usually found?

Forests

## Where to spot

- [Norway Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/norway-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District
- [Plainfield Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/plainfield-village-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District
- [Stamp River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stamp-river-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

[View all places to see rough goose neck moss](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rough-goose-neck-moss)

## 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: [Rough Goose Neck Moss: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rough-goose-neck-moss)