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Sprout identification please? #866379

Asked April 29, 2024, 6:48 PM EDT

Hi, I can’t narrow down if this is a moss or sedum or ??? A year ago I put creeping thyme seeds in this area but with no rain last year, none were seen. I was hoping this was them now but from all I can find, it’s sadly not. Thank you for any insight!!

Kanabec County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thanks for your question.

This is for sure is not a sedum nor is it creeping thyme (sorry about that!). Rather, it is a species of moss. When I enlarged the picture, I was able to narrow it down to a type of feather moss. If you enlarge your picture and look at the “stalks”, you should be able to see some resemblance to a feather. There are five or six species of feather mosses in Minnesota. To distinguish further among them would require a microscopic examination. One of the most common feather mosses in Minnesota is red-stemmed feather moss. It gets its name from red appendages it produces later in the summer upon which fruiting sacs are located. See the following for additional information:

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Plants/brocade_moss.html

http://www.wildflowerweb.co.uk/plant/329/feather-moss - :~:text=Feather mosses are named for,clusters on the forest floor.

Looks quite pretty. Thanks for consulting us.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 29, 2024, 7:33 PM EDT
Thank you so much!!!!! 

Have a great day! 

On Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 6:33 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied April 30, 2024, 9:32 AM EDT

Glad to have been of assistance.  Thanks for consulting us.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 30, 2024, 9:43 AM EDT

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