Knothole moss  (Zygodon forsteri)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

This species is widespread but rare across most of Europe. In Britain it is now restricted to three locations, the New Forest, Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire, and Epping Forest in Essex. Of these colonies, the one at Burnham Beeches is the largest, with much smaller populations at the other sites where it is restricted to a handful of trees.

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Knothole moss has very precise habitat requirements. It grows only in the raintracks on beech trees growing on acid soils in open, well-lit sites. Very occasionally it has been recorded on other species of tree. The raintracks are not fed with water from the canopy of the tree, but from pools of water held in a cavity in the exposed roots or truck of the tree. Colonies typically, grow around wound tissue such as knotholes giving the moss its common English name.

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