
Polytrichum piliferum has a bipolar, cosmopolitan distribution, occurring in suitable habitats on all continents including Antarctica. In Finnish its common name is karvakarhunsammal, while in German it is called Glashaar-Frauenhaarmoos, Glashaar-Haarmützenmoos, Glashaar-Widertonmoos, Haartragendes Frauenhaar-Moos, or Haartragendes Frauenhaarmoos. In English the species goes by the common names polytrichum moss, bristly haircap, or bristly haircap moss. It is the only species in its genus where the awn is completely hyaline. piliferum is the long, white awn at the tips of the leaves, which also give this moss its grey colour. This moss grows in clumps on erect shoots and becomes a red-brown colour as it grows older. It is an acrocarpous moss that appears bluish-green to grey. The bristly haircap moss is small-sized to medium-sized and forms loose tufts with wine-reddish stems. Polytrichum piliferum, the bristly haircap, is an evergreen perennial species of moss in the family Polytrichaceae. Polytrichum piliferum f Schiffneri Baur.Polytrichum piliferum var tectorum Warnst.Polytrichum piliferum var longisetum Bauer.Polytrichum piliferum var hyperboreus (R.Br.) Müll.Polytrichum piliferum var hoppei (Hornsch.) H.C.Polytrichum piliferum var alpestre Wulfsb.
