The Taxiphyllum alternans ‘Taiwan Moss’ resembles Taxiphyllum barbieri. It is as undemanding, but under good lights it grows much denser and more regular shoots whose outline is triangular, just like “Christmas moss”. It may be used in a similar way but looks more delicate. You will receive this plant from in vitro cultivation.

Taxiphyllum alternans (Cardot) Z. Iwatsuki is a moss with a creeping habit originating from regions with temperate to subtropical climates: the south-east of the USA and Eastern Asia. In the habitat, it lives on earth and exposed tree roots, on rotting wood in swamps and on rocks on rivulets and waterfalls. At first it was introduced to the hobby as Taiwan moss, even though it is not clear yet if this moss is native to Taiwan at all. Later on, Prof. Benito C. Tan (Singapore) identified it as Taxiphyllum alternans.

Taxiphyllum alternans ‘Taiwan Moss’ is very similar to Taxiphyllum barbieri, however, under good lighting it branches more densely and regularly. The two species can be discerned under a microscope, too: the leaf margin of T. alternans is only sawed around the leaf tip, whereas the entire margin of T. barbieri is finely sawed.

Family Name : Hypnaceae
Origin : Asia
Height : 3 – 10 cm
pH : 5-8
Temperature : 12 – 30°C