Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (Hedw.) Warnst.

Square Gooseneck Moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus)

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus is a species of moss known as springy turf-moss in the United Kingdom, and square goose neck moss in the United States. It is widespread in Eurasia and North America, and has been introduced to the Southern Hemisphere. It has broad ecological tolerances, and is usually found in man-made habitats such as lawns and golf courses. It is most closely related to R. subpinnatus, with which it is often confused.

Source: Wikipedia

Synonyms 17

Hylocomium squarrosum, Rhytidiastrum squarrosum, Hylocomium squarrosum var. bipinnatum, Hylocomium squarrosum var. fastigiatum, Hylocomium squarrosum var. minus, Hylocomium squarrosum var. subsimplex, Hypnum squarrosum var. minus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus var. bipinnatus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus var. fastigiatus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus var. robustus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus var. subsimplex, Hylocomium squarrosum f. robustum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus f. aureofuscescens, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus f. bipinnatus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus f. fastigiatus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus f. robustus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus f. subsimplex

186,978 GBIF occurrences
12,863 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/87460975/87737123

Habitats

IUCN: population narrative

The population is stable and very large. The number of individual-equivalents (i.e., mature individuals) runs into the millions. One individual-equivalent is considered to be one square metre on which the species grows.

IUCN: habitat narrative

This species occurs in a wide range of habitats, but especially grassy habitats such as wet meadows, pastures or roadsides (Meinunger and Schröder 2007). It also occurs in shrubland, light woodland, heath and moorland (Blockeel et al. 2014). In many areas it is a characteristic and abundant moss of urban parks and gardens.

IUCN: threats narrative

This species is very common and there are no major threats to it.

IUCN: conservation narrative

No conservation measures are required at present. This moss occurs in many protected areas.

IUCN: rationale

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU 28 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)The Springy Turf-moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus) occurs in a wide range of habitats, but especially grassy habitats such as wet meadows, pastures or roadsides. It also occurs in shrubland, light woodland, heath and moorland. In many areas it is a characteristic and abundant moss of urban parks and gardens. It is very common and widespread throughout Europe, but rarer to almost absent in the Arctic and in the Mediterranean lowlands. This species is assessed as Least Concern since it has a large and stable population, and there appear to be no major threats to it. No conservation measures are required at present. It is known to occur in many protected areas across its European range.

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (Hedw.) Warnst.

Related species

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