Local flora – umbrella moss

This beautiful moss covers the ground in damp, dark places in our bush. It wasn’t easy to identify, none of my books cover mosses but persistence pays off.

Canalohypopterygium tamariscinum is a creeping moss with erect stems (stipes) supporting an umbrella-like fond. The central axis of each frond has regularly-arranged branches on either side flattened into one plane (pinnate branching). The upper surface of branches has two rows of large leaves and the lower surface has a third row of smaller leaves, which are not visible from above. This species is distinguished by its strongly toothed under-leaves and the presence of long filamentous bristles along branches. Formerly Hypopterygium commutatum.
An endemic species widespread in New Zealand in moist forest.

from the University of Auckland http://www.nzplants.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/mosses/native-species/hypopterygiaceae/canalohypopterygium-tamariscinum.html