Tetraphis pellucida
“four-toothed moss”
Tetraphis pellucida. May 11, 2011. Hocking County, Ohio.
Tetraphis pellucida gemmae. May 11, 2011. Hocking County, Ohio.
Tetraphis capsules. May 11, 2011. Hocking County, Ohio.
How to recognize Tetraphis pellucida: This plant grows in small clumps on stumps or sandstone rocks. It almost always has either erect capsules with 4 large teeth (unless young and covered with a calyptra or capsule cover which is reddish on top and whitish around the bottom), or a specialized cup of little green leaves at the tip of the plant with little green gemmae that look like a bit like little green flattened eggs. These gemmae let this plant reproduce asexually without two parents, since each gemma, if it falls in the right place, will grow to be a new plant. The 1-2 mm egg-shaped leaves have a single costa which does not reach the tip of the leaf. Older plants are often brownish-red, especially on rocks.
Where to find Tetraphis pellucida: Look for this moss on rotten stumps or rocks.
