Mosses and Liverworts

green moss on gray and red novaculite, dead leaf on top of moss, lichen on novaculite on lower left of photo — NPS Photo by Gail Sears

There are at least 12,000 species of moss that exist all over the world (except in salt water). The most common species are the ones that exist in shady locations and create a carpet across woodlands and forest floors.

Mosses are great for preventing soil erosion, as they are capable of absorbing vast amounts of water. Additionally, mosses can break down different layers of soil and release nutrients for other plants to utilize.

These resilient plants have existed for at least 250 million years and are so diverse, that many do not have "common names." Below you'll find a list of the most common species of moss that have been documented in Hot Springs National Park.

Mosses of Hot Springs National Park

These mosses from the Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, were collected by Dr. Jewel E. Moore, retired Professor of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas, and identified by Steve L. Timme, Institute for Botanical Exploration, Mississippi State, Mississippi.

Fissidentaceae
Fissidens adiantoides Hedw.
Fissidens bryoides Hedw.
Fissidens bushii (Card. & Ther.) Card. & Ther.
Fissidens cristatus Wils. ex Mitt.
Fissidens subbasilaris Hedw.
Fissidens taxifolius Hedw.

Ditrichaceae
Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid.
Ditrichum pallidum (Hedw.) Hampe
Ditrichum pusillum (Hedw.) Hampe
Seligeriaceae
Seligera calcarea (Hedw.) B.S.G.
Seligera pusilla (Hedw.) B.S.G.
Dicranaceae
Dicranella heteromalla (Hedw.) Schimp.
Dicranum condensatum Hedw.
Dicranum fulvum Hook.
Dicranum montanum Hedw.
Dicranum scoparium Hedw.
Leucobryaceae
Leucobryum albidum (Brid. ex P.-Beauv.) Lindb.
Leucobryum glaucum (Hedw.) Angstr. ex Fr.

Pottiaceae Desmatodon plinthobius Sull. & Lesq. ex Sull.
Didymodon tophaceus (Brid.) Lisa
Hyophila involuta (Hook.) Jaeg. & Sauerb.
Tortella humilis (Hedw.) Jenn.
Weissia controversa Hedw.
Grimmiaceae
Grimmia laevigata (Brid.) Brid.
Funariaceae
Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.
Bryaceae
Bryum argenteum Hedw.
Bryum bicolor Dicks.
Bryum capillare Hedw. Bryum lisae DeNot. var. cuspidatum (B.S.G.) Marg.
Bryum pseudotriquetrum (Hedw.) Gaertn, Meyer & Schreb.
Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wils.
Pohlia nutans (Hedw.) Lindb.
Mniaceae
Mnium cuspidatum Hedw.
Ptychomitriaceae
Ptychomitrium incurvum (Schwaegr.) Spruce
Orthotrichaceae
Orthotrichum pusillum Mitt.
Orthotrichum strangulatum P.-Beauv.
Hedwigiaceae
Hedwigia ciliata (Hedw.) P.-Beauv.
Cryphaeaceae
Cryphaea ravenelii Aust.
Forsstroemia trichomitria (Hedw.) Lindb.
Leucodontaceae
Leucodon julaceus (Hedw.) Sull.
Neckeraceae
Thamnobryum alleghaniense (C. Muell.) Nieuwl.

Theliaceae
Thelia hirtella (Hedw.) Sull.
Thelia lescurii Sull.
Fabroniaceae
Anacamptodon sphachnoides (F. Froel. ex Brid.) Brid.
Clasmatodon parvulus (Hampe) Hook. & Wils. ex Sull.
Fabronia ravenelii Sull.
Schwetschkeopsis fabronia (Schwaegr.) Broth.
Leskeaceae
Leskea gracilescens Hedw.
Lindbergia brachyptera (Mitt.) Kindb.
Thuidiaceae
Anomodon attenuatus (Hedw.) Hueb.
Anomodon minor (Hedw.) Furnr.
Anomodon rostratus (Hedw.) Schimp.
Haplohymenium triste (Ces. ex DeNot.) Kindb.
Thuidium delicatulum (Hedw.) B.S.G.
Thuidium recognitum (Hedw.) Lindb.
Amblystegiaceae (sensu Redfearn, 1972)
Amblystegium riparium (Hedw.) B.S.G.
Amblystegium tenax (Hedw.) C. Jenn.
Amblystegium varium (Hedw.) Lindb.
Campylium hispidulum (Brid.) Mitt.
Platydictya confervoides (Brid.) Mitt.
Platydictya subtile (Hedw.) Crum
Brachytheciaceae (sensu Redfearn, 1972)
Brachythecium acuminatum (Hedw.) Aust.
Brachythecium oxycladon (Brid.) Jaeg. & Sauerb.
Brachythecium rutabulum (Hedw.) B.S.G.
Brachythecium serrulatum (Hedw.) Robins.
Bryoandersonia illecebra (Hedw.) Robins.
Rhychostegium pulchellum (Hedw.) Robins.
Entodontaceae Entodon cladorrhizans (Hedw.) C. Muell.
Entodon seductrix (Hedw.) C. Muell.
Plagiotheciaceae (sensu Redfearn, 1972)
Isopterygiopsis muelleriana (Schimp.) Iwats.
Isopterygium elegans (Brid.) Lindb.
Isoptyergium tenerum (Sw.) Mitt.
Plagiothecium cavifolium (Brid.) Iwats.
Sematophyllaceae
Sematophyllum adnatum (Michx.) Britt.
Hypnaceae
Homoallium adnatum (Hedw.) Broth.
Platygyrium repens (Brid.) B.S.G.
Pylaisiella selwynii (Kindb.) Crum, Steere & Anderson
Buxbaumiaceae
Diphyscium foliosum (Hedw.) Mohr.

Polytrichaceae
Atrichum angustatum (Brid.) B.S.G.
Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P.-Beauv.
Pogonatum brachyphyllum (Michx.) P.-Beauv.
Pogonatum pensilvanicum (Hedw.) P.-Beauv.
Polytrichum commune Hedw.
Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw.
Polytrichum ohioense Ren. & Card.

Identification of additional mosses from the Hot Springs National Park have revealed two which have never before been reported from the state, and a variety of another which has not previously been reported. The additions to the state checklist are: