Polytrichum commune

Most types of Polytrichum are taller than other types of mosses. Its common name is haircap moss. The sporophytes are about 3-4 inches tall. The distinctive spore capsule towers above the tall moss plants. It can hold up to one million spores per capsule. Although considered a shade moss by many, it grows in a variety of conditions. It can thrive on hillsides in direct sun, even facing south, in the worst of clay-based soils. Amazingly, it holds the soil along roadsides and could be considered as a solution for erosion control. As Polytrichum dries out, its leaves form the classic spiral that distinguishes mosses from liverworts. To perform moss magic, just spritz the dry specimen and it will unfurl before your eyes.