Dicranum scoparium Hedw.

Dicranum scoparium, the broom forkmoss, is a dicranaceous moss, native to most of the northern hemisphere as well as Oceania. It usually forms and grows in round mass clumps or mats on soil in dry to moist forested areas. As with many types of moss Broom moss grows in clumps with Broom mosses as well as other mosses. It can be distinguished by its leaves, which strongly curve to one side.

Source: Wikipedia

Synonyms 48

Bryum scoparium, Cecalyphum scoparium, Dicranodon scoparium, Dicranoloma otii, Dicranum alatum, Dicranum canadense, Dicranum consobrinum, Dicranum dillenii, Dicranum hartelii, Dicranum kindbergii, Dicranum mexicanum, Dicranum recurvatum, Dicranum rigidifolium, Dicranum scopariiforme, Dicranum subscoparium, Dicranum tectorum, Dicranum venturii, Mnium scoparium, Dicranum bonjeanii subsp. latifolium, Dicranum howellii subsp. angustifolium, Dicranum scoparium subsp. involutum, Dicranum scoparium subsp. pseudoundulatum, Dicranum scoparium subsp. tectorum, Dicranum bergeri var. aristatum, Dicranum bonjeanii var. alatum, Dicranum majus var. recurvatum, Dicranum palustre var. alatum, Dicranum palustre var. rupicola, Dicranum rigidifolium var. rugulosum, Dicranum scopariiforme var. undulascens, Dicranum scoparium var. affine, Dicranum scoparium var. alpestre, Dicranum scoparium var. aristatum, Dicranum scoparium var. atratum, Dicranum scoparium var. atrovirens, Dicranum scoparium var. compactum, Dicranum scoparium var. condensatum, Dicranum scoparium var. convolutum, Dicranum scoparium var. crispulum, Dicranum scoparium var. curvulum, Dicranum scoparium var. ericetorum, Dicranum scoparium var. eurydictyon, Dicranum scoparium var. falcatum, Dicranum scoparium var. fastigiatum, Dicranum scoparium var. flexicaule, Dicranum scoparium var. gracile, Dicranum scoparium var. gracilescens, Dicranum scoparium var. hartelii

251,588 GBIF occurrences
27,460 iNaturalist observations

Conservation status code

Conservation: status label

Least Concern

Conservation: population trend

Stable

Conservation: year assessed

2019

IUCN Red List page

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/84740994/87768972

Habitats

IUCN: population narrative

Although there are no quantitative data on the size of the subpopulations, this species is common and sometimes locally abundant in many European countries. The population can therefore be considered to be large and stable.

IUCN: habitat narrative

This is a very common perennial competitive species whose general ecological characteristics can be described as acidophitic, humicolous, and saprolignicolous. It ranges from hygrophytic to mesophytic, and from cryophytic and thermophytic. It is found in a wide range of habitats and is frequently found on the ground in both coniferous and deciduous woods, but it also occurs as an epiphyte on trees and trunks, on heathlands and moors, in marshes, on sand dunes, on acid rocks and in unimproved grasslands (Dierβen 2001, Atherton et al. 2010). It is found from sea level up to 2,900 m asl.

IUCN: threats narrative

There appear to be no major threats to this species.

IUCN: conservation narrative

No conservation measures are needed at present. The species occurs in protected areas. It has been assessed as Vulnerable in the Canary Islands.

IUCN: rationale

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU 28 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)The Broom Fork-moss (Dicranum scoparium) has a Circumpolar wide-boreal distribution and is widely distributed throughout Europe including Macaronesia and European Turkey. However, it is rare or absent in the Mediterranean lowlands. This species is assessed as Least Concern since it is widespread throughout Europe, the current population trend is stable and there appear to be no major threats to it. No specific conservation actions are needed.

Dicranum scoparium Hedw.

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