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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. 24)
(10 most common OH mosses) Climacium americanum and Thuidium delicatulum  Climacium americanum is one of the few mosses that can overtake lawn areas if they are moist and shady enough.  Climacium americanum in shady lawn area in Cuyahoga County, OH, early April.
Climacium americanum is also common in its native habitats, swampy areas.
 Climacium americanum in open swampy pool at Deep Woods Preserve, Hocking County, OH, mid-May.
Climacium is aptly called the "tree moss."
It is a pleurocarp that spreads by a rhizomelike underground primary
stem that produces upright, branched secondary stems that indeed look
like little trees.
 Climacium americanum, dry, in lawn, mid-October.  Climacium, moist, in swamp, mid-May. Microscopically (or with a hand lens) Climacium
is distinctive through its triangular, singly-costate leaves with
earlike projections (auricles) at their base. The stems are densely
clothed in filiform paraphyllia.
  Climacium americanum leaf (left)
and paraphyllia (right).
Thuidium delicatulumThuidium delicatulum is a robust,
light colored, widely spreading pleurocarp that is common on logs,
stumps, rocks, and on the ground in moist places.
 Thuidium delicatulum on stump at Deep Woods Preserve, Hocking County, OH, mid-February
Thuidium delicatulum is highly branched, and frequently froms a dense single-species layer over logs.  Thuidium delicatulum bearing sporophytes on log with puffball fungus at Deep Woods Preserve, Hocking County, OH, mid-October. Thuidium delicatulum is aptly
called the "fern moss." It is thrice-pinnately branched, with an
overall triangular shape that makes it look like a tiny fern.
 Thuidium delicatulum, moist.
Microscopically, Thuidium is recognizable by
triangular-ovate leaves with a strong single costa ending before the
leaf tip. The stems are densely clothed in filiform, much-branched
paraphyllia. The leaf cells bear stout simple, single papillae.
(Differentiation of Thuidium from the similar related genus Haplocladium
is made by microscopically examining the ends of the paraphyllia
and the leaf tip, both of which are pluripapillose in Thuidium, as opposed to being simply acute in Haplocladium.)   Thuidium delicatulum leaf (left) and edge of stem showing paraphyllia (right).   Thuidium delicatulum paraphylia (left) and leaf cells showing stout single papillae (right).  Thuidium delicatulum, branch with leaves, approx. 100X microscope view. Note pluripapillose leaf tip (circled). Next: Atrichum angustatum
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