Brotherella recurvans
“satin moss”
![Brotherella recurvans photo by Bob Klips](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Brotherella-recurvans-750x499.jpg)
Brotherella recurvans at Tucker County, WV. June 3, 2014.
![Brotherella-recurvans photo by Bob Klips](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Brotherella-recurvans-3-750x500.jpg)
Brotherella recurvans at Tucker County, WV. June 3, 2014.
![Brotherella-recurvans photo by Bob Klips](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Brotherella-recurvans-6-750x500.jpg)
Leaf of Brotherella recurvans from Tucker County, WV. June 3, 2014.
![Brotherella-recurvans phot by Bob Klips](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Brotherella-recurvans-5-750x500.jpg)
Inflated alar cells of Brotherella recurvans from Tucker County, WV. June 3, 2014.
How to recognize Brotherella recurvans: This is a shiny braided complanate (flattened) moss growing in mats on the forest floor. The leaves are ovate with a sharply toothed tip that is curved to one side of the stem or branch. Under a microscope the leaves have swollen thin-walled alar cells at the outer corners of the leaf base, with one or two rows of smaller oblong cells above those along the leaf margin; the costa is short and double which cannot usually be seen with a hand lens. The leaf tip is toothed.
Where to find Brotherella recurvans: This moss inhabits the low places in the forest on soil, logs, tree bases and rocks in the eastern part of North America. It is often found in hemlock forests.