Fissidens taxifolius

Fissidens taxifolius, the common pocket moss, is a species of moss in the family Fissidentaceae. First described by Johann Hedwig in 1801, it is a small to medium-sized moss that typically grows in dense, yellowish-green to dark green tufts. The species is characterised by its distinctive flattened appearance, with leaves arranged in two opposite rows resembling tiny fern fronds, and by its pointed leaf tips with projecting central nerves. It can grow in artificial light and is known to form extensive turfs in suitable conditions.

The species has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, being particularly common in the Northern Hemisphere across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa, with populations in the Pacific region. While primarily growing on soil and soil-covered rocks in wet, shaded areas, it also occurs in modified environments such as urban parks and gardens. The species shows significant regional variation in both morphology and reproduction. In Europe and North America, populations are typically autoicous, with both male and female organs on the same plant, and readily produce spores, whereas Pacific populations are often dioicous and reproduce primarily through vegetative means. Fissidens taxifolius is assessed as a least-concern species on the IUCN Red List due to its large, stable populations across its range and the lack of major threats to its survival.