Cat's Tail Moss
Cat's Tail Moss
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182212042
Cat's Tail Moss is just one of over 20,000 species of bryophytes in the world. Bryophytes are small plants that do not have flowers or seeds, lack true roots, and "absorb water and nutrients directly through their surface tissue and transport them directly from cell to cell"(USDA 2). These plants are often found on moist forest floors, rocks, cliffs, or tree trunks and branches. Cat's Tails moss is characterized by irregularly sized branches that form hanging strands or creep over surfaces. This moss is one of the most common ones found in coastal rainforests like Southeast Alaska. The Tongass National Forest is the second largest rainforest in the world and is home to a variety of flora and fauna, many of which have been used for thousands of years for a variety of uses. While specific uses for Cat's Tail Moss seem inconclusive, mosses in general are a plentiful commodity in Alaska. Like much of the flora and fauna in Alaska, mosses have been used by indigenous people for a variety of uses. Some Alaskan Native uses for mosses include use as a menstrual pad due to its absorbency, or mashed and mixed with breast milk then applied to the eyes to ease pain and treat blindness (Garibaldi 144-149). When looking around in the rainforests of Southeast Alaska, mosses are not hard to find but it's remarkable just how many varieties there are.
Garibaldi, Ann. Medicinal Flora of the Alaska Natives: A Compilation of Knowledge from Literary Sources of
Aleut, Alutiiq, Athabascan, Eyak, Haida, Inupiat, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Yupik Traditional Healing
Methods Using Plants. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Environment and Natural Resources Institute,
University of Alaska Anchorage, 1999.
USDA. “Mosses and Liverworts of the National Forests in Alaska - US Forest Service.” US Forest Service,
Sept. 2008, www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev3_069239.pdf.
Comments
Hey, Jillian! I love the forest pictures you took and how you positively identified what type of moss was growing on the spruce trees around you. At first glance, I thought it was the fungus/lichen that grows locally called Old Man’s Beard (Usnea longissima). Also, after reading your write-up, it sounds like you came across some informative research on your observed plant and I learned a lot I previously did not know. For example, I had no idea bryophytes have over 20,000 distinctive species and differ greatly from vascular plants. It is amazing that the Cat’s Tail Moss has historically been used by Alaska Natives to treat blindness as well.
Jilian, the pictures you captured are amazingly done; I especially like the one taken looking up at the tree from the base. How the Moss bulbs up and has that round appearance on the branches makes for a fantastic shot. Like what Lexi said, I never would have thought there would be so many moss species. Especially not twenty-thousand variations; I thought it would be around a thousand at most. It shows you that there's still so much to learn about and that learning will never stop. I wouldn't have expected the Alaska Natives to use Moss as a menstrual pad, but it makes sense the absorbent ability of Moss would have helped out a lot back then. It was wonderful looking through all your pictures, Jilian, and I wonder what observation you'll make next; I can't wait.
Hi Jillian! Your post stood out to me because I love all things moss. I had no idea moss was used medicinally and for menstruation. That is so fascinating and it makes so much sense! One of my favorite parts of moss, and its presence in Southeast Alaska, is that mosses stay green year round. Moss, including Cat's tail moss, helps Juneau feel a little less like everything is dead in the winter. (although Cat's tail moss can be more brownish green). Knowing that there are 20,000 bryophytes makes me want to look around for more! Thank you for sharing!
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