Cord moss is found globally in various environments. It often appears in gardens, on paths, and in disturbed areas.
What is Cord Moss
Cord moss, scientifically known as Funaria hygrometrica, is a common bryophyte. It typically grows as small, pale green to yellow-green plants, usually reaching about half an inch tall. Its oval-shaped leaves have a sharp tip and a central vein, crowded toward the stem’s apex.
A key identifying feature is its sporophyte, which includes a long, wiry stalk (seta) and a capsule (spore case). The seta can be several centimeters long, twisting and untwisting in response to humidity changes, aiding spore dispersal. The capsule is often curved, pear-shaped, reddish-brown, and appears asymmetrical with an oblique mouth when mature.
Where Cord Moss Grows
Cord moss thrives in disturbed habitats. It commonly appears on recently burned soil, quickly colonizing the nutrient-poor top layer before other plants establish. Its presence can indicate an old campfire site or disturbed ground.
This moss prefers moist, often shady conditions, but can also grow in full sun if moisture is available. It is frequently found in gardens, on paths, walls, and rock crevices, especially in bare, damp ground. It is also common in nurseries and greenhouses due to their wet, disturbed conditions.
Cord moss is nearly cosmopolitan in its distribution, found worldwide except in Antarctica. It flourishes in nutrient-rich, often slightly acidic, and consistently damp environments. This adaptability allows it to rapidly colonize new spaces, becoming a pioneer species in many ecosystems.
Managing Cord Moss
Cord moss plays an ecological role as a pioneering species, helping to stabilize soil and contribute to nutrient cycling in disturbed areas. It can also indicate specific environmental conditions, such as high moisture levels or certain soil compositions. For many established plants, cord moss is not harmful, as it typically occupies only the very top layer of the soil.
Understanding its preferred growing conditions is key to managing or removing cord moss. Mosses generally thrive in areas with excessive shade, poor drainage, compacted soil, and low soil fertility. Addressing these underlying issues is essential for long-term control, as simply removing the moss without correcting the conditions will likely lead to its return.
Improving drainage is a key step, involving aerating compacted soils or adjusting landscape grading to prevent water pooling. Increasing sunlight by pruning tree branches can deter moss in shady areas, or you can opt for shade-tolerant plants. Ensuring adequate soil fertility and proper soil pH through a soil test can also promote healthier turf or plant growth, which competes with moss.
Physical removal methods include hand raking or scarifying, which easily detaches the moss since it lacks true roots. After physical removal, overseeding with grass seed can help fill in bare spots and create a denser, more competitive turf.
Chemical treatments containing iron, such as ferrous sulfate, can effectively kill moss, turning it black. Cryptocidal soaps, another option, work as contact killers and are generally low in toxicity. Apply these products when moss is actively growing and follow product instructions carefully, as iron compounds can stain hard surfaces.