Common mosses
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The Polytrichum ( Polytrichum ) are a genus of mosses. The German name Widerton is derived from "Wider-das-Antun", as different types were used against evil spells.
features
They are relatively strong mosses that form loose, high lawns. Because of their size, some species of the genus are among those that are particularly noticeable to laypeople. They are also among the dominant species in Japanese moss gardens.
The structure of the leaves is characteristic . The leaf base is broadly sheathed and consists only of a thin layer of cells. In the front part of the leaf, the leaf vein fills almost the entire leaf blade. There are lamellae on the upper side of the leaf vein.
A special feature of these mosses is that the stems have two types of conductive tissue, one for water and one for assimilates.
The capsule stands on a long (3–5 cm) seta (the capsule stem). It is clearly 4-edged. The apophysis (capsule neck) is sharply separated from the rest of the capsule by a deep constriction. The spores are up to about 12 µm in size. When immature, the capsule is covered by a hairy, usually light brown cap, the kalyptra . These have also given the genus the names Frauenhaarmoose or Haarmützenmoose .
All mosses of the genus are dioecious .
particularities
In the past, mosses were used as mattress fillings and for sealing cracks in wooden houses. In boat building, too, joints were sealed with these mosses, since the leaves have good swelling properties.
distribution
The genus of the common moss is distributed worldwide. As a rule, they prefer acidic soils such as forest floors or bogs.
Systematics and types (selection)
In 1971, GLSmith separated several species from the genus Polytrichum (in the broader sense, according to the earlier view) due to peristome characteristics and converted them to the newly created genus Polytrichastrum GLSm. posed. After this split, 39 species remain in Polytrichum (in the narrower sense) worldwide.
Species that are more common in Central Europe are:
- Common red clay moss ( Polytrichum commune )
- Juniper common moss ( Polytrichum juniperinum )
- Polytrichum piliferum
- Stiff-leaved maidenhair ( Polytrichum strictum )
- Polytrichum uliginosum
More common former Polytrichum species, which are now counted as Polytrichastrum , are:
- Alpine Widertonmoos ( Polytrichum alpinum ) new: Polytrichastrum alpinum
- Nice white moss ( Polytrichum formosum ) new: Polytrichastrum formosum
- Polytrichum longisetum new: Polytrichastrum longisetum
Individual evidence
- ↑ Heinrich Marzell : The Widerton as a magic plant. In: Journal of Folklore . NF Vol. 3 = Jg. 41, 1931, pp. 163-171, ( digitized version ).
- ↑ Wolfgang Frey , Michael Stech, Eberhard Fischer: Bryophytes and Seedless Vascular Plants (= Syllabus of Plant Families. 3). 13th edition. Borntraeger, Berlin et al. 2009, ISBN 978-3-443-01063-8 , p. 145.
literature
- Bernhard Marbach, Christian Kainz: Mosses, ferns and lichens. Recognize and identify common and conspicuous species (= FSVO nature guide. ). BLV, Munich et al. 2002, ISBN 3-405-16323-4 .
