Plant · GBIF taxon 2673622
Woolly Rock Moss
Racomitrium lanuginosumAlso known as Woolly Fringemoss, Hoary Rock-Moss, Woolly Moss
Woolly rock moss blankets exposed boulders and wind-swept alpine tundra with thick, silvery-grey carpets. Long, clear hair-points on leaf tips give dry mats a distinctly frosted, woolly appearance that traps moisture and reflects intense high-altitude sunlight. These resilient bryophytes serve as essential pioneers, stabilizing boulder scree and generating initial soil layers across northern wildernesses.
AlpinePioneer SpeciesTundra
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
Not available
ThreatsTrampling by hikers, air pollution, climate warming
HabitatsAlpine tundra, exposed scree, lava fields, acidic rock faces
Life spanPerennial (colonies endure for decades)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyGrimmiaceae
- SpeciesRacomitrium lanuginosum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Close Inspection: Use a hand lens when mats are dry to view the tiny serrated hair-tips on each leaf.
- Tread Lightly: Step around moss-covered rocks on high peaks, as compressed alpine mats take decades to recover.
Frequent Companion Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 14:35, 21 October 2007 (UTC) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion Jason Hollinger / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Close Relative
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