Loeskeobryum brevirostre
“pinched shaggy moss”
Loeskeobryum brevirostre ar Raven Rocks Preserve in Belmont County, Ohio. May 9, 2014.
Loeskeobryum brevirostre leaf.
How to recognize Loeskeobryum brevirostre: This moss is known as Hylocomnium brevirostre in Crum & Anderson’s Mosses of Eastern North America and Bruce Allen’s Maine Mosses, but the newer name is used in the recently published Vol. 28 of the Flora of North America. It forms loose mats of somewhat arching plants with reddish stems and is almost pinnately branched. The 2-3 mm long plicate leaves are ovate except for an acuminate leaf tip that is sometimes transversely wrinkled. The base of the leaves has strong auricles on either side, but is not decurrent. The costa is double and can extend to the lower 1/3 to ½ of the leaf. The leaf margins are toothed, although this is hard to see with a handlens. Under the microscope abundant small branched filamentous paraphyllia can be seen covering the stem and branches.
Where to find Loeskeobryum brevirostre: This moss is found on thin soil on rocks and boulders and in crevices of rock ledges.
