# Urn Hair Moss (*Pogonatum urnigerum*)

Urn Hair Moss is a soft, green plant that grows in clumps. It loves to live in damp places like forests and can be found on rocks and soil, making it a cozy home for tiny creatures.

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

![Urn Hair Moss](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hedwig_519528140.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Miika Silfverberg, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hedwig_519528140.jpg)

## Appearance

The Urn Hair Moss is a small, dark green moss that forms dense carpets on the ground. It features tiny, upright stems that resemble miniature trees, topped with distinctive reddish-brown, urn-shaped capsules often covered in a hairy cap, making it easily identifiable.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its tiny spores are carried by wind to new places, even continents away!
- Mosses are Earth's oldest land plants, appearing over 400 million years ago!
- They don't have true roots; instead, tiny rhizoids anchor them. Wow!
- Urn Hair Moss helps prevent soil erosion by holding earth together.

## Special abilities

- **Water Sponge:** Urn Hair Moss can absorb up to 20 times its weight in water, helping keep surrounding soil moist for other plants.
- **Spore Shield:** Urn Hair Moss has a hairy cap that protects its developing spores, ensuring they are released safely when ready.
- **Drought Survivor:** Urn Hair Moss can dry out completely and then rehydrate, allowing it to survive long periods without water.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 1-5 cm
- **Spread:** 5-20 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Water

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Grove Snail (*Cepaea nemoralis*) — Snails graze on its green leaves and developing spores.
- **Shelter:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Ants and other small invertebrates find shelter within its dense mats.
- **Shelter:** European Ground Beetle (*Carabus nemoralis*) — Ground beetles often hide under moss carpets during the day.

## 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.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [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.
- [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 moss, but always wash your hands after exploring!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Urn Hair 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 Urn Hair Moss?

1-5 cm

### How wide does Urn Hair Moss spread?

5-20 cm

### Is Urn Hair Moss edible?

No

### Is Urn Hair Moss toxic?

None

### What is Urn Hair Moss's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Urn Hair Moss pollinated?

Water

### Where is Urn Hair Moss usually found?

Forests

## Where to spot

- [Pasayten Wilderness](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pasayten-wilderness) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve

## 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: [Urn Hair Moss: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/urn-hair-moss)