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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.) |
INTRO TO MOSS ID (p. 23)
(10 most common OH mosses) Ceratodon purpureus and Anomodon rostratus  Ceratodon purpureus is quite the weed, capable of growing in some pretty harsh places.  Ceratodon purpureus on elevated concrete manhole at the
Larry R. Yoder Prairie at OSU-Marion, April, 2008. Ceratodon is an acrocarp that grows in dense dark tufts, often with a purplish cast.
 Ceratodon purpureus
 Ceratodon purpureus Ceratodon can be challenging to
identfy. It is quite variable. Fairly consistent features include lance-ovate leaves with a
margin that is strongly recurved from apex to base. Through the
microscope Ceratodon is recognized by having especially thick-walled short-rectangular cells,
giving the leaf a peculiar "blocky" appearance.
  Ceratodon purpureus leaf (left)
and upper cells (right) showing the prominent costa extending the
entire length of the leaf (sometimes excurrent as well) and the
distinctive thick-walled leaf cells.
Anomodon rostratusAnomodon rostratus is a medium sized pleurocarp that is common on rocks on the ground, and tree bases.
 Anomodon rostratus on rocky (limestone) ground along the Scioto River in the vicinity of the Griggs Reservoir, Columbus, OH, March 2008.
Anomodon rostratus has a distinctive bright yellow-green color.  Anomodon rostratus Anomdon rostratus is julaceous. Its triangular-ovate leaves end in long points that give the branches a scruffy apearance.
 Anomodon rostratus
Microscopically, Anomodon rostratus is recognizable by costa extending as a long clear (hyaline) leaf tip. The cells are pluripapillose.   Anomdon rostratus leaf (left) and leaf tip (right). Next: Climacium americanum and Thuidium delicatulum
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