Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Small

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Dry rocky terrain

Range

Worldwide

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Desiccation Tolerance

Status

Uncommon

About

This moss grows in dense, dark cushions on exposed granite surfaces. It survives total dehydration by curling its leaves to shield its cells from the sun.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Bryophyta

Class

Bryopsida

Order

Grimmiales

Family

Grimmiaceae

Genus

Grimmia

Species

Grimmia laevigata