Carolina Hornwort

Phaeoceros carolinianus forms flat, rosette-shaped patches 10–20 mm in diameter on bare soil and rock surfaces. Its spore capsules, which can reach 40–60 mm in height, are a defining feature. The species is dioicous, with both male and female reproductive structures present on the same plant. It is distributed across various regions including the Azores, Madeira, Belgium, the United States, and parts of South America. First described in 1951, it is differentiated from similar species like P. laevis by its reproductive and spore characteristics.