Bristly haircap moss (Polytrichum piliferum), Nijmegen, Netherlands (© Misja Smits/Minden Pictures)

【December 22 2014】Most of the mosses in the Polytrichum genus have common names that allude to the plant’s fuzzy appearance: hair moss, haircap, etc. This specimen, pictured in close-up detail, is known as bristly haircap. The species prefers sandy, acidic soil. It’s often a “colonist” plant, growing on burnt ground where the nutrient content of the soil is extremely low, or in shallow dirt on rocky terrain.Explore breathtaking Gallery from the HuluTrip homepage over the past 5 years..