Specimen #4 Moss

Specimen 4: Moss

Figure 1: Densely packed stems look like white-green sea urchins; leaves are typically stiff and straight.

Figure 2: Wet, brighter green, smooth edges evident; air bubbles present near base of leaf, flat, clear cells are imaged

Figure 3: Dry, white-green color, almost opaque overall presence, but some individual cells can be seen to be clear, lacking midrib, smooth edges are apparent

Scientific Name: Leucobryum albidum
Common Name: White Moss
Order: Dicranales
Family: Leucobryaceae
Collection Date: September 17, 2015
Habitat: Forest soil, remains of logs, recently fallen logs
Location: Cleveland Metro Parks - Chagrin Falls, OH
Description: Smaller version of similar species (Pincushion Moss) - < 1 cm tall, leaves 2-4 mm long, lance shaped leaves, like white-green sea urchins, brighter green appearance when wet, blades appear opaque, midrib lacking, edges smooth, flat, clear, egg-shaped base, typically has air bubbles visible
Collector: Breanna Beltz

Key Used: McKnight, K.B, Rohrer, J.R., et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ.

Key Steps:

• Acrocarpous 
• Leaf shape: Lance
• Midrib: No
• Key II, pp. 342-350
• Grey/white/light green --> 2
• Stem < 1 cm --> Leucobryum albidum pp. 123

Ecology:
One of two that occur in Ohio, and while it is widely distributed in Eastern North America, it tends to be more common southward into Mexico and Central America (Coniferous Forest Bryophytes, 2007).

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=LEAL35
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250075534
https://www.ohio.edu/plantbio/vislab/moss/Jarrod%27spage.html
http://www.esf.edu/efb/kimmerer/mossecology/coniferousforest.htm

Bryopsida Links:

http://tolweb.org/Bryopsida
http://www.dlia.org/class-bryopsida
http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=Bryopsida&display=31
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bryophyta.htm
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/plants/bryophyta/bryophyta.html

Specimen #3 Moss

Specimen 3: Moss

Figure 1: Leaves spread apart when wet, arrowhead shaped leaves, smooth edges evident.

Figure 2: Cells are shaped like long diamonds

Figure 3: Known as "Knothole Moss," this species is predominantly recognized for their habitats in tree trunks, moist nooks, and cracks or rain channels; appear as tiny, creeping, dark green plants with irregularly dividing branches

Scientific Name: Anacamptodon splachnoides
Common Name: Knothole Moss
Family: Fabroniaceae
Collection Date: September 1, 2015
Habitat: Tree trunks in moist nooks
Location: Bonney Castle - Hiram College - Hiram, OH
Description: Arrowhead shaped leaves, starry, tiny, 1 mm long, midrib ends below leaf tip, smooth edges, cells shaped like long diamonds, with small square cells in lower outside corners of leaves
Collector: Breanna Beltz

Key Used: McKnight, K.B, Rohrer, J.R., et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ.

Key Steps:

• Pleurocarpous 
• Leaf shape: Ovate
• Midrib: Yes
• Key VIII, pp. 365
• Not pinnately branched --> 10
• Stems branched near to base --> 13
• Various substrates - moist to dry --> 19
• Small < or = to 1 mm --> 25
• Leaf tip pointed, not broken off --> 26
• Dry - leaves spread, wet - same --> 28
• Found on tree trunks --> Anacamptodon splachnoides pp. 263

Ecology:
This species is typically located in knotholes, and crevices where moisture collects on trees. They are found in certain areas within Ohio (Ohio Moss and Lichen Association).

Figure 4: Distribution of species throughout Ohio

Links:
http://ohiomosslichen.org/moss-anacamptodon-splachnoides/
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=547524
http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/240/art%253A10.2307%252F2806443.pdf?originUrl=http%3A%2F%2Flink.springer.com%2Farticle%2F10.2307%2F2806443&token2=exp=1443574992~acl=%2Fstatic%2Fpdf%2F240%2Fart%25253A10.2307%25252F2806443.pdf%3ForiginUrl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Flink.springer.com%252Farticle%252F10.2307%252F2806443*~hmac=c51cf80dcc8b7a175d5e97fe669835daf34bb4665bb5cada7f597110a7aec984
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ANSPA

Bryopsida Links:

http://tolweb.org/Bryopsida
http://www.dlia.org/class-bryopsida
http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=Bryopsida&display=31
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bryophyta.htm
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/plants/bryophyta/bryophyta.html

Specimen #2 Moss

Specimen 2: Moss

Figure 1: Wet, semi-flaring, translucent leaves are imaged 

Figure 2: Wet, semi-flaring, translucent leaves, light green appearance

Figure 3: Dry, cylindrical specimen on rock substrate

Figure 4: Dry, cylindrical specimen, with overlapping, cupped leaves 

Scientific Name: Entodon seductrix
Common Name: Cord Glaze Moss
Order: Hyphales
Family: Entodontaceae
Collection Date: September 1, 2015
Habitat: Rock, shaded area, surrounded by other mosses, dry woods
Location: Bonney Castle - Hiram College - Hiram, OH
Description: Shiny, glossy, densely crowded, overlapping, cupped leaves, wet leaves translucent
Collector: Breanna Beltz

Key Used: McKnight, K.B, Rohrer, J.R., et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ.

Key Steps:

• Pleurocarpous 
• Leaf shape: Ovate
• Midrib: No
• Key IX, pp. 369-375
• 3-Dimenional leaves --> 12
• Leaves are single color --> 13
• Stems are green to brown --> 17
• Dry habitat --> 23
• Branches appear cylindrical --> 26
• Leaves 1-2 mm long - plants mid-sized --> 29
• Growing on rock, not much changes when wet, leaves @ 45* angle when wet --> 31
• Crowded, overlapping, wormlike branches --> 32
• Capsules are cylindrical, very short point --> Entrodon seductrix pp. 291

Ecology:
This species can be found on rocks, logs, and tree bases throughout eastern North America (Ohio Moss & Lichen Association).

Figure 5: Species distribution in Ohio

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ENSE2

http://eol.org/pages/890776/overview

http://ohiomosslichen.org/moss-entodon-seductrix/

Bryopsida Links:
http://tolweb.org/Bryopsida
http://www.dlia.org/class-bryopsida
http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=Bryopsida&display=31
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bryophyta.htm
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/plants/bryophyta/bryophyta.html

Specimen #1 Moss

Specimen 1: Moss

Figure 1: Image of individual leaf showing toothed tip, the extended midrib from base to tip, and the midrib taking up < or = to 1/4 of leaf width of upper leaf

Figure 2: Image showing the mix of dry and wet leaves as some curl in and some spread out, rust colored fuzz pictured

Figure 3: Picture is the specimen as water is absorbed and leaves begin to spread into starlike shape, rust-colored fuzz visible, few dried leaves curling inward are visible, leaves appear wavy when wet

Scientific Name: Atrichum altercristatum
Common Name: Wavy Starburst Moss
Order: Polytrichales
Family: Polytrichaceae
Collection Date: September 2015
Habitat: Dry, sunny, under oak tree, soil
Location: South Russell, OH
Description: Rust-colored fuzz matted on stem base, dried leaves curl tightly, wet leaves spread out (starlike), wavy when wet, midrib reaches leaf tip, leaves edges toothed near tip
Collector: Willa Schrlau

Key Used: McKnight, K.B, Rohrer, J.R., et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ.

Key Steps:

• Acrocarpous 
• Leaf shape: Lance
• Midrib: Yes
• Key II, pp. 342-350
• Darker green --> 3
• Soil --> 4
• Rippled/wavy when wet --> 5
• Midrib to leaf tip --> 6
• Midrib < or = to 1/4 width of upper leaf --> 7
• 1-3 cm tall, rust colored fuzz --> Atrichum altecristatum pp. 69

Ecology:
Commonly grow on Ohio soil in forests along trails and roads (Ohio Moss & Lichen Association).

Figure 4: Distribution of species throughout Ohio

Links:

http://www.fnanaturesearch.org/index.php?option=com_naturesearch&task=view&id=1397
http://ohiomosslichen.org/moss-atrichum-altecristatum/
http://annalidibotanica.uniroma1.it/index.php/Annalidibotanica/article/view/13059
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/275098327_Mosses_as_bioindicators_of_air_pollution_along_an_urban-agricultural_transect_in_the_Credit_River_Watershed_southern_Ontario_Canada

Bryopsida Links:

http://tolweb.org/Bryopsida
http://www.dlia.org/class-bryopsida
http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=Bryopsida&display=31
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bryophyta.htm
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/plants/bryophyta/bryophyta.html