It is primarily a coastal species that grows in moist, coniferous and deciduous forests, acidic grasslands and in the UK, heathy slopes on mountains.

The leaves are glossy, heart-shaped or cordate and grow in an irregular arrangement on pinnate branches.

The coloration of the leaves on lanky moss range from shades of yellow to dark olive green.

This growth formation creates large, interwoven and unconstrained mats acting as a carpet on the surrounding area of the forest floor.

Rhytidiadelpus loreus is a dioicous plant in which male and female gametes are produced on separate individuals.

In the United States it is specifically located in southeast Alaska, California and eastern Montana.

While in Canada it can be found in the providences of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec.

It grows in north-western Europe in countries such as Norway, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland and in northern and western parts of the UK.

[1] Lanky moss is usually a coastal species that grows in moist environments, preferably in shady, dark locations.

This is due to the amount of moisture, decaying matter and nitrogen in these top layers of soil that lanky moss can thrive on.

The Kindbergia species that is located in British Columbia is smaller Rhytidiadelphus loreus and has more complex branch structure.

Lanky moss can serve as an insulator, nutrition sponge and a water filtration system that circulates throughout the forest.

It there was no insulation then many of the trees growing at colder latitude could not survive the harsh winter months.

The insulation of lanky moss prevents the roots from freezing if there is an unexpected drop in temperature.

After a major disturbance such as a fire or glacial advancement, moss and lichen are initial species in the regrowth of vegetation.

Since other feather mosses unlike Rhytidiadelphus loreus are capable of nitrogen fixation they are able to facilitate growth of other species because they can introduce a crucial nutrient into the growing forest.

It has a long history of uses and is not only a key species in a prospering forest but is also serves an essential role in cultural traditions.

Indigenous people living in North America used moss as a raw material to make baskets, clothes and protecting insulation for their homes.

They used it medicinally as a wound dressing and as a tool to stop excessive bleeding because of its incredible ability to absorb or retain liquid.

They would use lanky moss to steam food such as roots or bulbs and to trap heat in their houses during the cold season.

Its many uses range from placement in store windows, material to build figurines or could be placed in a hanging flower box.

The aesthetic appreciation for moss has grown in popularity with the emergence of Japanese gardening and commercialized landscaping.

Because of its high water retention and drought resistance capabilities, Lanky Moss is an environmentally friendly as well as cost affective alternative to grass lawns.

A downside to moss is that it can inhibit new tree growth by possibly suffocating seedling success and blocking any available water to enter the root systems.