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The Herbarium

A Field Guide to Real and Imaginary Plants

Youngmoss

Faya spina

Umbraceae (the Shadow family)

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Description

An epiphytic grower attaching to bark and stone without rooting in soil. Heart-shaped leaves with downy undersides and serrated margins.

Blooms change color as they age, from white through pink to purple, colored twilight blue. Blooms at dawn on equinoxes.

Habitat

Native to nowhere, found everywhere - a cosmopolitan wanderer.

Traditional Uses

None recorded - this plant seems to have escaped human attention until now.

Folklore

Believed to mark the boundaries between the seen and unseen worlds.

Similar Species

Hybridizes with Silverwish.

Conservation

Status unknown - more surveys needed.

Field Notes

Photographing this species requires patience and soft light.