Knight’s plume is a green moss with feathery, curly branches.
RANGE & HABITAT
Knight’s plume is a common moss in northern B.C., found at low to subalpine elevations. It will grow on logs, rocks, and trees in mixed and coniferous forests.
Mosses release spores into the air instead of seeds. In Knight’s plume, there is a brown capsule which grows out of the branches to release these spores.
Because it is so common, it provides habitat (cover) for many small animals and is used as a lining for nests.
TRADITIONAL FIRST NATIONS USES
Mosses had many uses with First Nations groups. They were used as a dishcloth, a stuffing for mattresses and pillows and to line cradles and bags. Moss was mixed with pitch in canoe construction and with mud to build log cabins.
Dried moss is used for decorations, indoor plants, and for packing fragile things.
COSEWIC: Not at Risk
Photo: Kari Pihlaviita