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         Introduction to
Moss ID Links ID1 (Intro to Plants) ID2 (Bryophytes) ID3 (Life Cycle) ID4 (Divsions) ID5 (Books & Gear) ID6 (Leaves) ID7 (Cells) ID8 (Sporophytes) ID9 (peculiar Sphagnum) ID10 (peculiar Atrichum) ID11 (peculiar Fissidens) ID12. (Key Overview) ID13 (Platygyrium start) ID14 (Platygyrium finish) ID15 (Funaria start) ID16 (Funaria finish) ID17 (Orthotrichum start) ID18 (Orthotrichum finish) ID19 (OH Atlas & FQAI) ID20. (Plag. cusp.) ID21 (Ambl. vari., Anom. Atte.) ID22 (Plat. repe., Ento. sedu.) ID23 (Cera. purp., Anom. rost.) ID24 (Clim. amer., Thui. deli.) ID25 (Atri angu.) |
INTRODUCTION TO MOSS IDENTIFICATION
13. Keying out an unknown moss Here's OMLA member Bonney sitting on a
log with her head in her hands. Uh-oh, is she crying? No! Just the
opposite...she's in a state of bliss, looking at a moss through a hand
lens! What could be better? (Looking at at lichen maybe?)
 The moss on the log has a distinctive dark oily-green appearance.
(Location: A.W. Marion State Park, Pickaway County, OH, December 2007.) The first couplet deals with overall growth form.  The stems are creeping, horizontal, branched, producing sporophytes at intervals,
i.e., it is a pleurocarp (carpet moss). Next we're in the lab, looking at the cells through the high-power microscope.  The leaf cells are smooth.
Examination of the stem is sometimes required. Paraphyllia are small filamentous or leaflike appendages that clothe the stem of some mosses.  But not this one...paraphyllia are lacking.
Habitat is a useful identification feature, especially in conjunction with morphology. 
Next: What is this moss? Are we done yet?
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