Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Tiny

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Temperate rockland

Range

Worldwide

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Desiccation Tolerance

Status

Uncommon

About

This moss forms dense, rounded tufts on exposed rocks in temperate regions. It curls its white hair-points inward to survive extreme drought by reflecting sunlight.

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 pulvinata