Speciment #3 Moss

Figure 1: Detail of Bryhnia novae-angliae

Name: Bryhnia novae-angliae
Family:  Brachytheciaceae

Collection Date:  October 4, 2011

Habitat: Shaded area on moist log

Location: West Woods

Description: Leaves small, arranged around branching stems. Capsules lifted above gametophytes by seta, dark in color.
Collector: Jamie Frost

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1a. Plants with stems and leaves; leaves equally spaced around the stem.... leaf cells isodiametric..... 2

2b. Plants not as above (not  of Subclass 1. Sphagnidae).... 3

3b. Plants not as above (not of Subclass 2. Andreaeidae)... pg 28 Subclass Bryidae

Key to Families/Genera of Bryidaes pg. 28

1b. Green... plants....3

3b. Leaves inserted in three or more rows though plants sometimes strongly flattened thus appearing in two rows.... 7

7b. Plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth.... 8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.... 9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above (not Diphyscium)... 10

10b. Plants with distinct stem; capsule when present with an operculum... 17

17b. Plants large... growing on trees... 20

20b. leaves without filiform green photosynthetic outgrowths... 28

28b. Plants not growing on rich organic soil, dung, bones, or other organic matter of animal origin.... 33

33b. Stems creeping.. in interwoven mats.... 139

139a. Leaves papillose... 140

140a. Papillae formed by projecting angles of cell wall... 141

141a. Costa of leaves single... 142

142b. Leaves small, to 1.2 mm long.... 143

143a. Costa not prominent.... pg. 197 Bryhnia


Key to Family Brachytheciaceae - Genus Bryhnia
1a. Twisted at the apex, costa smooth on back... Bryhnia novae-angliae



Links:
http://greekbiodiversity-habitats.web.auth.gr/en/specie/2291/photo