common four-toothed moss

<em>Tetraphis pellucida</em> is a moss in the family Tetraphidaceae, order Tetraphidales, commonly known as common four-toothed moss or pellucid Georg-moss. This species is named for the four distinctive teeth of its peristome — the structure surrounding the capsule opening through which spores are dispersed — a feature unique among mosses and taxonomically important. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. <em>Tetraphis pellucida</em> is distributed across Asia (including Taiwan), Europe, and North America, typically growing on decaying logs, stumps, and peaty, acidic soils in humid, shaded forest environments. It often forms dense, low-growing cushions or turfs on rotting wood and is commonly found in boreal and cool-temperate forests. The species reproduces both sexually via spores and vegetatively through specialized propagule cups (gemmae cups), which produce clonal plantlets dispersed by rain splash. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.