Common fork-tooth moss
| Common fork-tooth moss | ||||||||||||
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Dicranum scoparium |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dicranum scoparium | ||||||||||||
| Hedw. |
The common fork-tooth moss or broom moss ( Dicranum scoparium ) is a common moss with many forms in European forests and heaths.
features
These are strong, up to 10 cm high mosses, which often form extensive cushions. The lower part of the stems is usually surrounded by a dense brownish or gray rhizoid felt .
The leaves are usually turned crescent-shaped to one side, sometimes more or less straight upright. This feature can vary greatly in strength. Normally the leaves are not as strongly curved as in Dicranum majus and more clearly one-sided than in Dicranum bonjeanii . The leaves are drawn out into a long awl tip. The leaf cells are elongated rectangular both in the leaf base and in the leaf tip. Another characteristic feature are the four lamellae on the underside of the leaf vein, which extends into the leaf tip.
The curved, cylindrical capsule stands on a brownish-red seta .
Dicranum scoparium is a dioecious species, which, however, often reproduces vegetatively by breaking off stems or branches.
distribution
The species occurs in the northern hemisphere, in the temperate areas. The distribution area extends north to the tundra areas and in the mountains to heights of 3000 m. The species is also found in New Zealand , the Canary Islands and Madeira . It is widespread and common in Europe .
The moss grows on earth or rocks, sometimes also at the bottom of trees on roots, in forests, heaths or moors . It can grow in both acidic and neutral soil.
photos
Habitus
Lamina cells at 400x magnification
Midrib at 200x magnification
literature
- Jan-Peter Frahm , Wolfgang Frey : Moosflora (= UTB . 1250). 4th, revised and expanded edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-8252-1250-5 .
