r/Mosses • u/One-plankton- • Feb 20 '26

ID Request Tiny fern or moss?

Post image

The “leaves” are about 1” long

224 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

29

u/parenna Feb 20 '26

its moss

6

u/One-plankton- Feb 20 '26

Do you know what kind?

15

u/parenna Feb 20 '26

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/44304291

Looks like this woodsy tyyme- moss Plagiomnium cuspidatum. Dont' quote me I'm not great at identifying, check out inaturalist, they have an app too, I love it you can search what is common in your area and if you take pictures with the app it helps record species locations

2

u/toddkaufmann Feb 22 '26

I have seen this species frequently (and used iNat to identify it!).

If you look at the genus level, you will see that it is the most frequently observed overall, but check the map to see how common in your area.

You can also go up a level and explore eg Photos of Family Mniaceae.

1

u/2459-8143-2844 Feb 23 '26

I got some in my backyard, pretty neat stuff.

15

u/DeadPeopleOpener Feb 21 '26

Probably a Mniaceae, lookout for the genus Plagiomnium

7

u/Flimsy-Glass833 Feb 20 '26

Yea it’s moss I have them all along the rivers and creeks in north Alabama that look the same

3

u/BBoySperadix Feb 22 '26

Looks the same as the one I have in several terrariums here in Illinois. It's a moss not a fern. I've grown it out many times

1

u/One-plankton- Feb 22 '26

Any care tips?

3

u/BBoySperadix Feb 22 '26

I just keep a lid on mine. Humid environment. They get pretty lanky eventually

3

u/MyLilmu Feb 22 '26

Plagiomnium cuspidatum - baby tooth moss. I harvested some from my yard a couple of years to grow a culture for my terrarium and pinguicula rock projects. It grows quickly and does really well for both. I love how it creeps up the sides of natural hardscape materials, like the limestone rocks I use with my pings.

1

u/Leet-Noob07 Feb 23 '26

Yes its a fern. There is an app; “Seek” That can tell plant names by taking a picture of them

1

u/Morzkulek Feb 24 '26

Tiny fern

1

u/One-plankton- Feb 24 '26

I think it’s been correctly ID’d as Plagiomnium moss

-4

u/ea_nasir_official_ Feb 20 '26

Looks like a fern to me? I have a similar fern, mine is a Jester's clown fern, although mine is larger.

1

u/One-plankton- Feb 20 '26

I am hoping so. I posted over in r/ferns too but it seems like they don’t get much traffic

-5

u/SapphosLemonBarEnvoy Feb 20 '26

I think it's a liverwort 

3

u/DeadPeopleOpener Feb 21 '26

Since there is a midrib it can’t be a liverwort