Star Moss

A common sight in damp shady places, Star Moss is my favorite moss!  It is so soft to the touch that when I am out walking and see it, I am always compelled to bend down and stroke it.  (Yes, maybe I am a bit strange!).

Its Latin name is Polytrichum commune, and people have used it as a decorative material all over the world.  In the past, it has also been used to make a type of tea from which people used to believe would dissolve kidney and gall stones.