A fast-spreading, heat-tolerant flowering moss that pioneers bare rock and thin soils across Yalia’s plains. Pebblepip is a foundational groundcover that provides early biomass.

Etymology

From English pebble + pip.

Morphology

Dense mats of dark-red vegetative growth no taller than ~80 mm, dotted with tiny upright white flowers that look like little spikes or “pips.” The groundcover has a fine, velvety texture when mature.

Physiology

Heat-tolerant pioneer species.

Behavior

Life Cycle

Rapid vegetative expansion via rhizoids and spore/flower production during moist periods. Short-lived shoots renew annually.

Ecology

Thrives after disturbance or in mineral-rich micro-sites. Mats thicken over years and seed/propagule banks in soil pockets allow quick recolonization after cafrite dieback.