Forsstroemia Moss

Description

Forsstroemia trichomitria (Hedw.) Lindb. (Cryphaeaceae) is an epiphytic moss that forms luxurious mats on hardwood trunks in moist forests. It is found throughout eastern Asia as well as eastern North America and northeastern Mexico. It is in the same family as Cryphaea glomerata, recently featured here, and has a very similar habit. I am grateful to my colleague, Alan Franck, for the new collection and photographs of this species in the field. Alan was recently appointed curator of the USF Herbarium, and shares my interest in mosses and other "cryptogams."