Tuesday, September 29, 2015

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



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