Moss of the Year in Latvia
Moss of the Year in Latvia is an annual nomination of moss species of Latvian flora. The representing moss species of the year is selected by the Latvian Botanical Society's [lv] Bryology Group.[1]
Although there are more than 500 moss species in Latvia, mosses are little-noticed by the general public. Therefore, in the first weeks of January, the announcement of the category is made in order to promote protection and overall importance of the moss as a part of the local ecosystems and landscapes. The selected moss may be used in traditional medicine, have historical importance (some species were used as bandages during wartime), or some of their structures may be rarely found, for example, sporophytes.[2]
The category has existed since 2016.[3]
Selected moss species by the year
- 2026 – Shingle moss (Neckera pennata)[1]
- 2025 – Angled paludella moss (Paludella squarrosa)[4]
- 2024 – Heath star moss (Campylopus introflexus)[5]
- 2023 – Wulf's peatmoss (Sphagnum wulfianum)[6]
- 2022 – Riccia cavernosa (Cavernous Crystalwort)[7]
- 2021 – Nowellia curvifolia[8]
- 2020 – Rose moss (Rhodobryum roseum)[9]
- 2019 – Trichocolea tomentella[10]
- 2018 – Pincushion moss (Leucobryum glaucum)[11]
- 2017 – Tree climacium moss (Climacium dendroides)[12]
- 2016 – Ostrich-plume feathermoss (Ptilium crista-castrensis)[2]
References
- ^ a b "Latvia's moss of the year is shingle moss". eng.lsm.lv. 2026-01-05. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ a b "2016. gada sūna – parastā straussūna". dabasdati.lv (in Latvian). 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Gada sūna 2016 – parastā straussūna | Latvijas Botāniķu biedrība". 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Here's a spiky yarn – Latvia has its moss of the year". eng.lsm.lv. 2026-01-08. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Heath star moss is the star among mosses of 2024". eng.lsm.lv. 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Wulf's peatmoss is moss of the year 2023 in Latvia". eng.lsm.lv. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Make way for the Moss of the Year 2022". eng.lsm.lv. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Gada sūna 2021 – līklapu novellija | Latvijas Botāniķu biedrība" (in Latvian). 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Gada sūna 2020 – parastā rožgalvīte | Latvijas Botāniķu biedrība" (in Latvian). 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Gada sūna 2019 – tūbainā bārkstlape | Latvijas Botāniķu biedrība" (in Latvian). 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Gada sūna 2018 – zilganā baltsamtīte | Latvijas Botāniķu biedrība" (in Latvian). 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Gada sūna 2017 – parastā kociņsūna | Latvijas Botāniķu biedrība" (in Latvian). 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2026-01-06.