Pointed gloss moss
| Pointed gloss moss | ||||||||||||
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Pointed gloss moss ( Phascum cuspidatum ) |
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| Phascum cuspidatum | ||||||||||||
| Hedwig |
The Tipped gloss moss ( Phascum cuspidatum ) is a form rich moss from the family of pottiaceae . Numerous forms (varieties) and subspecies are described in the literature. The species belongs to the cleistocarpic mosses. Its capsules remain closed even after ripening. The spores it contains are only released after the capsule wall has weathered. The spores can persist in the capsules for long periods of time.
Distribution and occurrence
The sharpened gloss moss occurs in lime-rich, moist, and also on longer dry pioneer locations such as open embankments and fields. Its distribution includes the entire temperate northern hemisphere with populations in Europe , the Middle East and North America as well as parts of North Africa .
features
The pointed gloss moss, which grows in small yellow-green cushions or herds, usually grows to 4 to 5 millimeters, sometimes up to 10 millimeters. Its leaves sit relatively loosely at the top of the plant, but they protrude slightly in the lower part. When dry, they are curved and lean close together. The entire-margined leaves are elongated, lanceolate with a short, straight central rib. The leaf margins often appear bent back. Rarely are also glass hair to find. The leaf also has mostly papillary lamina cells.
From late summer onwards, the seated, dark brown to reddish-brown colored, egg-spherical shaped, blunt-tipped capsules appear, which are usually sunk into the moss plant until fully ripe. The capsule stem (the seta ) is usually very short. The capsules produce papillary spores that are only 0.025-0.04 mm in diameter. When young, the capsules have a cap-shaped kalyptra .
literature
- Volkmar Wirth , Ruprecht Düll : Color Atlas of Lichen and Moss. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-8001-3517-5 .
