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
1 / 7—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
Image unavailableClose Relative Close Relative
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.