Details Top

Internal ID UUID644078de4da3d552585573
Scientific name Polytrichastrum alpinum
Authority (Hedw.) G.L.Sm.
First published in Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 21(3): 37 1971

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Horticultural growing media and potting substrates, consisting primarily of dried, milled Sphagnum peat blended with perlite, bark, compost, or mineral nutrients; also sold as peat moss for soil amendment, garden beds, and lawns.
- Bog and bog‑garden planting material used in native landscaping and wetland restoration.

Industrial and craft applications:
- Water and wastewater polishing filters employing raw or lightly processed Sphagnum biomass to remove suspended solids and dissolved cations by adsorption and filtration; used in constructed wetlands, aquaculture tanks, mine‑drainage treatment, and household drinking‑water prefilter cartridges.
- As a sustainable horticultural substrate, Sphagnum peat reduces reliance on mined mineral substrates and enables peat‑reduced or peat‑free formulations; raw moss also functions as a conservation material for bog habitat restoration and re‑vegetation.

Scientific/model-organism use:
- Sphagnum serves as a model bryophyte for studies of peatland carbon dynamics, ecological stoichiometry, and plant–microbe interactions; reference genome resources and curated ecological databases support comparative genomics, ecosystem modeling, and standardized protocols for carbon flux measurement and bog restoration trials.

Properties relevant to use:
- High cation‑exchange capacity driven by polyuronic acids and pectic polysaccharides in cell walls enables cation binding in filtration and soil buffering.
- Open, porous microstructure and low bulk density confer rapid water uptake and high water‑holding capacity suitable for substrates and biofilter media.
- Acidic chemistry (typically pH 3.5–4.5) stabilizes peat matrices and influences nutrient availability.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Sphagnum peatlands form very slowly, with regrowth typically

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Pogonatum alpinum (Hedw.) Röhl. Ann. Wetterauischen Ges. Gesammte Naturk. 3(2): 226 1814
Pogonatum alpinum var. arcticum (Sw. ex Brid.) Brid. Bryol. Univ. 2: 131 1827
Pogonatum alpinum var. brevifolium (R.Br.) Brid. Bryol. Univ. 2: 131 1827
Pogonatum arcticum (Sw. ex Brid.) P.Beauv. Prodr. Aethéogam. 84 1805
Pogonatum fasciculatum (Michx.) P.Beauv. Prodr. Aethéogam. 84 1805
Pogonatum norwegicum (Hedw.) P.Beauv. Prodr. Aethéogam. 84 1805
Polytrichum alpinum Hedw. Sp. Musc. Frond. 92. pl. 19: f. 2: b 1801
Polytrichum alpinum var. integrifolium Cardot & Broth. Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl., n.s. 63(10): 72 1923
Polytrichum alpinum var. microdontium Kindb. Ottawa Naturalist 5: 180 1892
Polytrichum austroalpinum Müll.Hal. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 5: 77 1883
Polytrichum austrogeorgicum Müll.Hal. Int. Polarforsch., Deutsch. Exped. 2: 289 1890
Polytrichum brevifolium R.Br. Chlor. Melvill. 36 1823
Polytrichum fasciculatum Michx. Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 294 1803
Polytrichum nano-cephalum Müll.Hal. Int. Polarforsch., Deutsch. Exped. 2: 292 1890
Polytrichum obliquirostre Müll.Hal. Hedwigia 36: 342 1897
Polytrichum plurirameum Müll.Hal. Int. Polarforsch., Deutsch. Exped. 2: 291 1890
Polytrichum pseudoalpinum Müll.Hal. Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 13: 750 1855
Polytrichum vanhoeffenii Kindb. Biblioth. Bot. 42(A): 66 1897
Polytrichum urnigerum var. fasciculatum (Michx.) A.Chev. Fl. Gén. Env. Paris 2: 58 1827
Polytrichastrum norwegicum (Hedw.) Schljakov Novosti Sist. Nizsh. Rast. 19: 210. 1982.
Pogonatum alpinum var. furcatum (Hornsch.) Paris Index Bryol.: 976. 1898.
Pogonatum ambiguum (Michx.) P.Beauv. Prodr. Aethéogam.: 84. 1805.
Pogonatum austroalpinum (Müll.Hal.) Paris Index Bryol.: 971. 1898.
Pogonatum austrogeorgicum (Müll.Hal.) Paris Index Bryol.: 977. 1898.
Pogonatum campanulatum (Hornsch.) Brid. Bryol. Univ. 2: 133. 1827.
Pogonatum furcatum (Hornsch.) Brid. Bryol. Univ. 2: 133. 1827.
Pogonatum oederi P.Beauv. Mag. Encycl. 9(5[19]): 330. 1804.
Pogonatum polare (Müll.Hal.) A.Jaeger Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1873–74: 262. 1875.
Pogonatum pseudoalpinum (Müll.Hal.) A.Jaeger Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1873–74: 262. 1875.
Pogonatum pylaesii Brid. Bryol. Univ. 2: 744. 1827.
Pogonatum urnigerum var. fasciculatum (Michx.) Brid. Bryol. Univ. 2: 126. 1827.
Pogonatum vanhoeffenii (Kindb.) Paris Index Bryol. Suppl.: 279. 1900.
Polytrichum alpinum var. ambiguum (Michx.) Bom. & Broth. Herb. Mus. Fenn. (ed. 2), Musci: 28. 1894.
Polytrichum alpinum var. arcticum (Sw. ex Brid.) Wahlenb. Fl. Suec. (Wahlenberg) 2: 738. 1826.
Polytrichum alpinum var. flavisetum Györffy Magyar Bot. Lapok 5: 24, 29. 1906.
Polytrichum alpinum var. polare (Müll.Hal.) I.Hagen Tromsø Mus. Aarsh. 21–22(3): 263. 1904.
Polytrichum ambiguum Michx. Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 293. 1803.
Polytrichum arcticum Sw. ex Brid. J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(1): 287. 1801.
Polytrichum crassisetum DC. Fl. Franç. (ed. 3) 2: 486. 1805.
Polytrichum ferrugineum Brid. Muscol. Recent. Suppl. 1: 61. 1806.
Polytrichum furcatum Hornsch. Horae Phys. Berol.: 67. 1820.
Polytrichum helveticum (DC.) Schleich. ex Sw. Adnot. Bot.: 149. 1829.
Polytrichum microdontium (Kindb.) Kindb. Biblioth. Bot. 42(A): 66. 1897.
Polytrichum oederi Brid. ex P.Beauv. Mag. Encycl. 9(5): 330. 1804.
Polytrichum polare Müll.Hal. Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 17: 205. 1859.
Polytrichum timmioides Müll.Hal. Int. Polarforsch., Deutsch. Exped. 2: 291. 1890.
Pogonatum alpinum f. austrogeorgicum (Müll.Hal.) Cardot Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 6: 10. 1906.
Polytrichum alpinum f. flavisetum (Györffy) Podp. Consp. Musc. Eur.: 65. 1954.
Pogonatum alpinum var. campanulatum (Hornsch.) Bruch & Schimp. Bryol. Eur. 4: 253. 1844.
Pogonatum alpinum f. elatum Cardot Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 6: 16. 1906.
Pogonatum alpinum var. microdontium (Kindb.) Macoun & Kindb. Cat. Canad. Pl., Musci: 152. 1892.
Pogonatum alpinum f. nanocephalum (Müll.Hal.) Cardot Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 6: 10. 1906.
Pogonatum alpinum f. plurirameum (Müll.Hal.) Cardot Wiss. Ergebn. Schwed. Südpolar-Exped. 1901–1903, 4(8): 233. 1908.
Pogonatum alpinum var. simplex Schimp. Coroll. Bryol. Eur.: 91. 1856.
Pogonatum alpinum f. timmioides (Müll.Hal.) Cardot Wiss. Ergebn. Schwed. Südpolar-Exped. 1901–1903, 4(8): 233. 1908.
Polytrichastrum alpinum var. brevifolium (R.Br.) Brassard Bryologist 75: 531. 1972[1973].
Polytrichum alpinum subsp. brevifolium (R.Br.) Kindb. Eur. N. Amer. Bryin. 2: 160. 1897[1898].
Polytrichum alpinum var. furcatum (Hornsch.) Müll.Hal. Syn. Musc. Frond. 1: 211. 1848.
Polytrichum alpinum var. matumurae Ihsiba Classif. Mosses Japan: 91. 1932.
Polytrichum alpinum var. moldavicum Papp Ann. Sci. Univ. Jassy 15: 159. 1928.
Polytrichum alpinum var. piriforme J.Froehl. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 63: 32. 1959.
Polytrichum alpinum subsp. rohlenae Vilh. Acta Bot. Bohem. 2: 49. 1923.
Polytrichum alpinum var. simplex (Schimp.) Limpr. Laubm. Deutschl. 2: 617. 1893.
Polytrichum alpinum var. voraginum H.A.Möller Ark. Bot. 17(4): 9. 1922.
Polytrichum septentrionale var. hyperboreum Sw. Adnot. Bot.: 152. 1829.
Polytrichum septentrionale var. norwegicum (Hedw.) Sw. Utkast Sv. Fl. (ed. 3): 527. 1816.
Polytrichum strictum var. helveticum DC. Fl. Franç. (ed. 3) 2: 489. 1805.
Polytrichum alpinum var. brevifolium (R.Br.) Müll.Hal. Syn. Musc. Frond. 1: 211. 1848.
Polytrichum alpinum var. angustifolium Lindb. Observ. Form. Praes. Eur. Polytrich.: 130. 1868.

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English alpine polytrichastrum moss
Czech ploník horský
German alpen-widertonmoos
Finnish vuorikarhunsammal
Finnish pohjankarhunsammal
Dutch berghaarmos
Swedish klotbjörnmossa
Swedish nordlig björnmossa
Chinese 高山小金发藓
Chinese 高山野馬騣
Chinese 拟金发藓
Chinese 金发藓短叶变种
Chinese 高山拟金发藓
Chinese 高山金发藓

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Name Authority First published in
Polytrichastrum alpinum var. sylvaticum (Menzies) G.L.Merr. Sida 22: 547 2006
Polytrichastrum alpinum var. alpinum
Polytrichastrum alpinum var. fragariforme (W.X.Xu & R.L.Xiong) Redf. & P.C.Wu Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 73: 199. 1986.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

No distribution data was extracted from POWO/KEW yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0001186706
Tropicos 35141923
The Plant List tro-35141923
GBIF 7880988
EOL 41899609
Tropicos 35141647
The Plant List tro-35141647
GBIF 7563428
EOL 41899428
Tropicos 35119826
The Plant List tro-35119826
GBIF 8104417
EOL 41883826
Tropicos 35119939
The Plant List tro-35119939
GBIF 7825865
EOL 41883887
Tropicos 35141699
The Plant List tro-35141699
EOL 41899463
Tropicos 35119599
The Plant List tro-35119599
GBIF 8261481
EOL 41883677
Tropicos 35125275
The Plant List tro-35125275
GBIF 4280005
EOL 41887285
Tropicos 35100269
The Plant List tro-35100269
Open Tree Of Life 985319
NCBI Taxonomy 752061
GBIF 8268678
EOL 21172247
Tropicos 35119812
The Plant List tro-35119812
GBIF 7918187
EOL 41883816
Tropicos 35141455
The Plant List tro-35141455
GBIF 8160170
EOL 41899294
Tropicos 35119681
The Plant List tro-35119681
GBIF 8297923
EOL 41883730
Elurikkus 655937
Tropicos 35125248
The Plant List tro-35125248
GBIF 8324350
EOL 23922830
Tropicos 35119623
The Plant List tro-35119623
GBIF 7843498
EOL 41883695
Tropicos 35141518
The Plant List tro-35141518
EOL 41899340
USDA Plants POAL24
Tropicos 35169087
INPN 433975
The Plant List tro-35169087
Open Tree Of Life 1012882
Observations.org 161158
NCBI Taxonomy 129212
NBN Atlas NBNSYS0000154678
Nature Serve 2.122982
iNaturalist 167286
GBIF 2682930
EPPO QTYAL
EOL 927809
Elurikkus 6470
CMAUP NPO15696
Wikipedia Polytrichastrum_alpinum

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
Accession Assembly
Name Level Submitter Released Coverage Size
GCA_048933195.1 ASM4893319v1 Chromosome BGI Group (China) 2025-03-25 51 475.17 Mb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Cucumber FKBP Gene Family in Response to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses Yang D, Li Y, Zhu M, Cui R, Gao J, Shu Y, Lu X, Zhang H, Zhang K Genes (Basel) 27-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10671320
doi:10.3390/genes14112006
PMID:38002948
Diversity, Ecology and Phytogeography of Bryophytes across Temperate Forest Communities—Insight from Mt. Papuk (Croatia, SE Europe) Alegro A, Šegota V, Rimac A, Papp B Plants (Basel) 22-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10574398
doi:10.3390/plants12193346
PMID:37836086
Genome-Wide Analysis of MBF1 Family Genes in Five Solanaceous Plants and Functional Analysis of SlER24 in Salt Stress Xia D, Guan L, Yin Y, Wang Y, Shi H, Li W, Zhang D, Song R, Hu T, Zhan X Int J Mol Sci 11-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10531278
doi:10.3390/ijms241813965
PMID:37762268
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of FKBP Gene Family in Wheat (Triticum asetivum) Ge Q, Peng P, Cheng M, Meng Y, Cao Y, Zhang S, Long Y, Li G, Kang G Int J Mol Sci 22-Nov-2022
PMCID:PMC9739119
doi:10.3390/ijms232314501
PMID:36498828
Are Natural or Anthropogenic Factors Influencing Potentially Toxic Elements’ Enrichment in Soils in Proglacial Zones? An Example from Kaffiøyra (Oscar II Land, Spitsbergen) Kowalska JB, Nicia P, Gąsiorek M, Zadrożny P, Węgrzyn MH, Waroszewski J Int J Environ Res Public Health 21-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC9603001
doi:10.3390/ijerph192013703
PMID:36294277
Carbohydrates and secondary compounds of alpine tundra shrubs in relation to experimental warming Zhou Y, Yang M, Tai Z, Jia J, Luan D, Ma X BMC Plant Biol 10-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC9549620
doi:10.1186/s12870-022-03851-y
PMID:36210454
Measuring volatile emissions from moss gametophytes: A review of methodologies and new applications Brennan DL, Kollar LM, Kiel S, Deakova T, Laguerre A, McDaniel SF, Eppley SM, Gall ET, Rosenstiel TN Appl Plant Sci 14-Apr-2022
PMCID:PMC9039793
doi:10.1002/aps3.11468
PMID:35495197
Stable isotope signals provide seasonal climatic markers for moss functional groups Royles J, Young S, Griffiths H Proc Biol Sci 19-Jan-2022
PMCID:PMC8767200
doi:10.1098/rspb.2021.2470
PMID:35042415
Distribution of Peptidyl-Prolyl Isomerase (PPIase) in the Archaea Anchal, Kaushik V, Goel M Front Microbiol 07-Oct-2021
PMCID:PMC8530231
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.751049
PMID:34691003
Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Endopolyploidy in Mosses Paľová M, Ručová D, Goga M, Kolarčik V Genes (Basel) 27-Dec-2020
PMCID:PMC7824635
doi:10.3390/genes12010027
PMID:33375487
A Rice Immunophilin Homolog, OsFKBP12, Is a Negative Regulator of Both Biotic and Abiotic Stress Responses Cheung MY, Auyeung WK, Li KP, Lam HM Int J Mol Sci 20-Nov-2020
PMCID:PMC7699956
doi:10.3390/ijms21228791
PMID:33233855
Natural Genetic Resources from Diverse Plants to Improve Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants Yolcu S, Alavilli H, Lee BH Int J Mol Sci 13-Nov-2020
PMCID:PMC7697984
doi:10.3390/ijms21228567
PMID:33202909
It Is Hot in the Sun: Antarctic Mosses Have High Temperature Optima for Photosynthesis Despite Cold Climate Perera-Castro AV, Waterman MJ, Turnbull JD, Ashcroft MB, McKinley E, Watling JR, Bramley-Alves J, Casanova-Katny A, Zuniga G, Flexas J, Robinson SA Front Plant Sci 07-Aug-2020
PMCID:PMC7457050
doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.01178
PMID:32922412
The plant MBF1 protein family: a bridge between stress and transcription Jaimes-Miranda F, Chávez Montes RA J Exp Bot 08-Feb-2020
PMCID:PMC7094072
doi:10.1093/jxb/erz525
PMID:32037452
Species-specific effects of passive warming in an Antarctic moss system Prather HM, Casanova-Katny A, Clements AF, Chmielewski MW, Balkan MA, Shortlidge EE, Rosenstiel TN, Eppley SM R Soc Open Sci 13-Nov-2019
PMCID:PMC6894601
doi:10.1098/rsos.190744
PMID:31827828

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
24-Hydroxytormentic acid 14055737 Click to see 504.70 unknown via CMAUP database
hyptatic acid B 12305222 Click to see 488.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Tetracarboxylic acids and derivatives
[(2R,3S)-2-[(2S,3S)-3-[(E,3S,4S)-3,4-diacetyloxypent-1-enyl]oxiran-2-yl]-6-oxo-2,3-dihydropyran-3-yl] acetate 102116886 Click to see CC(C(C=CC1C(O1)C2C(C=CC(=O)O2)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C 382.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodioxoles
2(5H)-Furanone, 3,4-bis(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)- 11851336 Click to see 352.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dihydrofurans / Furanones / Butenolides
(5R)-3-Hexadecanoyl-4-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)furan-2(5H)-one 54678922 Click to see 368.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
(S)-Rosmarinic acid 639655 Click to see 360.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Kaempferol-3-O-Rutinoside 5318767 Click to see 594.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
5-Hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone 5281601 Click to see 298.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavans
4,9,11-Trihydroxy-22-oxahexacyclo[10.10.2.02,7.08,24.015,23.016,21]tetracosa-2(7),3,5,8(24),9,11,16,18,20-nonaen-13-one 3533256 Click to see 372.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
4,9,11,15-Tetrahydroxy-22-oxahexacyclo[10.10.2.02,7.08,24.015,23.016,21]tetracosa-2(7),3,5,8(24),9,11,16,18,20-nonaen-13-one 162842044 Click to see 388.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
6,9,11-Trihydroxy-22-oxahexacyclo[10.10.2.02,7.08,24.015,23.016,21]tetracosa-2(7),3,5,8(24),9,11,16,18,20-nonaen-13-one 85080634 Click to see C1C2C3C(C4=C(C(=CC=C4)O)C5=C3C(=C(C=C5O)O)C1=O)OC6=CC=CC=C26 372.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
6,9,11,14-Tetrahydroxy-22-oxahexacyclo[10.10.2.02,7.08,24.015,23.016,21]tetracosa-2(7),3,5,8(24),9,11,16,18,20-nonaen-13-one 162888855 Click to see 388.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
Ohioensin A 442531 Click to see 372.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
Ohioensin B 9976521 Click to see 372.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
Ohioensin C 11740841 Click to see 386.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
Ohioensin F 25033124 Click to see 388.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036
Ohioensin G 25033201 Click to see 388.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2007.11.036

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