Rock moss - Rock moss

Japanese: イワダレゴケ - いわだれごけ

A large, beautiful species of the family Musciaceae, a typical moss of the subalpine zone of Japan (illustration). It is widely distributed in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and grows in high mountains all over Japan, but is particularly common in the subalpine zone, where it forms large colonies on the forest floor of coniferous forests. The stems grow obliquely upward, and in the upper half they branch out regularly in a plane like feathers. The following year, new shoots grow from the top of the main stem and similarly branch out like feathers. This growth cycle is repeated every year, so the plant body takes on an appearance reminiscent of a multi-tiered tower or staircase, and often reaches a length of more than 20 cm.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ヒヨクゴケ科の大型の美しい種で，日本の亜高山帯の代表的な蘚類（イラスト）。北半球の高緯度地域に広く分布し，日本でも各地の高山に生育するが，とくに亜高山帯に多く，針葉樹林の林床に大きな群落をつくる。茎は斜上し，上半部で一平面上に羽毛のように規則正しく分枝する。翌年に主茎の上部から新芽が伸び出して同様に羽状に分枝する。この生長を年々繰り返すため，植物体は多層の塔や階段を思わせる姿となり，その長さが20cm以上に達する場合も多い。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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