| Hookeria lucens | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Bryophyta |
| Class: | Bryopsida |
| Subclass: | Bryidae |
| Order: | Hookeriales |
| Family: | Hookeriaceae |
| Genus: | Hookeria |
| Species: | H. lucens |
| Binomial name | |
| Hookeria lucens | |
Hookeria lucens, the shining hookeria, [1] is a species of moss in the family Hookeriaceae. It is native to Europe, east to the Caucasus, Turkey and China, as well as Scandinavia and the Faeroe Islands and western North America. [2]
Hookeria lucens is a medium to large-sized moss that grows in creeping mats or patches. The plant has a distinctive transparent or glass-like appearance when wet, due to its large, lax cells that can be seen even with a hand lens. The stems are green, fleshy, and succulent, typically growing 1–5 cm long (occasionally reaching 7.5 cm), with sparse and irregular branching. They display a flattened ( complanate ) arrangement of leaves along the stem. The plant appears whitish to light green or pale yellow in colour, and becomes somewhat contorted when dry. [3]
The leaves are arranged in a distinctive pattern, with the leaves on the upper ( dorsal ) side of the stem often being broader and more symmetrical than those on the sides. Each leaf is broad and completely lacks a midrib ( costa ), which is unusual among mosses. The leaves have rounded-obtuse tips and smooth, unbordered edges. A distinctive feature of H. lucens is the presence of scattered pairs of smaller cells throughout the leaf, with one cell of each pair being relatively smaller and square-shaped. The cells along the leaf margin are the same width as those in the middle of the leaf. [3]
When reproducing, the species produces red to blackish stalks ( setae ) that are 1–2 cm long (occasionally reaching 2.5 cm). These stalks bear capsules (spore-containing structures) that are oblong-cylindrical or ellipsoid in shape and 1.5–2 mm long. A distinctive characteristic is that these capsules become strongly contracted below the mouth when dry. The capsules mature from late fall to spring, protected by a short, cone-shaped cap ( calyptra ) that is 2–2.5 mm long. The spores are smooth to minutely bumpy and measure 10–17 μm in diameter. [3]
The species can also reproduce asexually through specialised filaments that grow among the rhizoids (root-like structures) at the tips of leaves. These filaments are unbranched, composed of a single row of cells, and have a slightly rough surface. [3]
Hookeria lucens is notable for accumulating an unusual variety of mineral deposits within its cells, including bohemite, calcite, and quartz – a characteristic rarely observed in mosses and thought to result from the plant's interaction with soil minerals through biomineralisation processes. [4]
Hookeria lucens is predominantly a species of temperate regions, with a distribution across the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, it is found along the Pacific coast and adjacent areas, specifically in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. Outside North America, the species occurs in Europe, western Asia, and Atlantic Islands. [3]
The species shows a strong preference for humid, coastal environments and typically grows at low to moderate elevations, generally from sea level to about 500 metres. It is particularly associated with the Pacific Northwest's coastal rainforest ecosystems, where it can be found in several distinctive habitat types. These habitats include coastal islands and their adjacent mainland areas, ravines and river systems (particularly near pools), swampy margins of lakes, and raised bogs where it grows in peaty, waterlogged soil. [3]
Hookeria lucens grows in wet evergreen woodlands, showing a particular affinity for forests dominated by alder ( Alnus ), Port Orford cedar ( Chamaecyparis ), western hemlock ( Tsuga ), coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ), and Sitka spruce. The species also colonises old, decaying logs in heathland environments, demonstrating its ability to grow on both soil and woody substrates. Its preference for these consistently moist, often shaded environments reflects its need for high humidity and protection from direct sunlight, conditions typical of the Pacific Northwest's temperate rainforest ecosystems. The timing of its reproductive cycle appears to be coordinated with the wet seasons of its habitat, with spore-containing capsules typically maturing from late fall through spring, coinciding with the Pacific Northwest's rainiest period. [3]
Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophytasensu stricto. Bryophyta may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hornworts. Mosses typically form dense green clumps or mats, often in damp or shady locations. The individual plants are usually composed of simple leaves that are generally only one cell thick, attached to a stem that may be branched or unbranched and has only a limited role in conducting water and nutrients. Although some species have conducting tissues, these are generally poorly developed and structurally different from similar tissue found in vascular plants. Mosses do not have seeds and after fertilisation develop sporophytes with unbranched stalks topped with single capsules containing spores. They are typically 0.2–10 cm (0.1–3.9 in) tall, though some species are much larger. Dawsonia, the tallest moss in the world, can grow to 50 cm (20 in) in height. There are approximately 12,000 species.
Fissidens adianthoides, the maidenhair pocketmoss, is a moss in the family Fissidentaceae. It was first collected by Hedwig in 1801.
Polytrichum commune is a species of moss found in many regions with high humidity and rainfall. The species can be exceptionally tall for a moss with stems often exceeding 30 cm (12 in) and rarely reaching 70 cm (27.5 in), but it is most commonly found at shorter lengths of 5 to 10 cm. It is widely distributed throughout temperate and boreal latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere and also found in Mexico, several Pacific Islands including New Zealand, and also in Australia. It typically grows in bogs, wet heathland and along forest streams. Additionally, class Polytrichopsida has been shown to thrive in partially open habitats that have been recently disturbed by human activities or even livestock.
Helodium blandowii, also known as Blandow's helodium moss, Blandow's tamarisk-moss, Blandow's bogmoss, and Blandow's feathermoss, is a common moss species in Europe. It is also found in North America, Central Asia and Greenland. It is considered rare plant in the Western U.S., including Oregon and California. It occurs all around the northern hemisphere in higher latitudes, and in some places is not as rare as in the Western U.S.
Meesia triquetra, the three-ranked hump-moss, is a moss that occurs all around the northern hemisphere in higher latitudes.
Meesia uliginosa, the broad-nerved hump-moss, is a rare moss of the Western U.S. It occurs all around the northern hemisphere in higher latitudes, and in some places is not as rare as in the Western U.S.
Tetraphidaceae is a family of mosses. It includes only the two genera Tetraphis and Tetrodontium, each with two species. The defining feature of the family is the 4-toothed peristome.
Ceratodon purpureus is a dioicous moss with a color ranging from yellow-green to red. The height amounts to 3 centimeters. It is found worldwide, mainly in urban areas and next to roads on dry sand soils. It can grow in a very wide variety of habitats, from polluted highway shoulders and mine tailings to areas recently denuded by wildfire to the bright slopes of Antarctica. Its common names include redshank, purple forkmoss, ceratodon moss, fire moss, and purple horn toothed moss.
Aulacomnium palustre, the bog groove-moss or ribbed bog moss, is a moss that is nearly cosmopolitan in distribution. It occurs in North America, Hispaniola, Venezuela, Eurasia, and New Zealand. In North America, it occurs across southern arctic, subboreal, and boreal regions from Alaska and British Columbia to Greenland and Quebec. Documentation of ribbed bog moss's distribution in the contiguous United States is probably incomplete. It is reported sporadically south to Washington, Wyoming, Georgia, and Virginia.
Anomobryum julaceum, the slender silver-moss, is a species of bryophyte native to all continents except South America and Antarctica. A. julaceum is found widespread in the temperate regions of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Its capsules mature beginning in late fall and through the spring. It is most commonly found in wet crevices and on sandstone cliffs. Additional micro-habitats include tussock tundra with seeps and late snow melt areas and on granitic outcrops. In eastern North America it appears to be restricted to acid habitats, in the wet crevices of sandstone cliffs or other seepy niches. Overall, A. julaceum resembles species of the genus Pohlia, and its leaves are similar to those of Bryum argenteum; it can only be separated from Pohlia and Bryum using a microscope. Anomobryum julaceum can be distinguished from Bryum argenteum by its strongly julaceous, shiny leaves.
Polytrichum juniperinum, commonly known as juniper haircap or juniper polytrichum moss, is an evergreen and perennial species of moss that is widely distributed, growing on every continent including Antarctica.
Calliergon cordifolium is a species of moss in the Calliergonaceae family, commonly known as the calliergon moss or heart-leaved spearmoss. The species is abundant in the right habitat, and grows in marshes and wet woodland, especially woodland of alder (Alnus) or willow (Salix), as well as around streams, ditches and pools. The species grows in tufts among other moss species. Calliergon cordifolium requires a wet environment to grow, and often grows completely submerged in water. It typically prefers lowland, but has been recorded as high as 910 metres (1,000 yd) above sea level in Inverness, Scotland. The species has a circumpolar Boreo-temperate distribution. It is found throughout Europe. It has been recorded in north and central Asia, as well as Turkey and Japan, throughout North America and in New Zealand.
Polytrichastrum alpinum, also known as Alpine haircap, is a species of moss from the family Polytrichaceae. It is widely distributed and may be found growing among other moss species.
Pogonatum urnigerum is a species of moss in the family Polytrichaceae, commonly called urn haircap. The name comes from "urna" meaning "urn" and "gerere" meaning "to bear" which is believed to be a reference made towards the plant's wide-mouthed capsule. It can be found on gravelly banks or similar habitats and can be identified by the blue tinge to the overall green colour. The stem of this moss is wine red and it has rhizoids that keep the moss anchored to substrates. It is an acrocarpous moss that grows vertically with an archegonium borne at the top of each fertilized female gametophyte shoot which develops an erect sporophyte.
Climacium dendroides, also known as tree climacium moss, belongs in the order Hypnales and family Climaciaceae, in class Bryopsida and subclass Bryidae. It is identified as a "tree moss" due to its distinctive morphological features, and has four species identified across the Northern Hemisphere. The species name "dendroides" describes the tree-like morphology of the plant, and its genus name came from the structure of the perforations of peristome teeth. This plant was identified by Weber and Mohr in 1804. They often have stems that are around 2-10 cm tall and growing in the form of patches, looking like small palm-trees. They have yellow-green branches at the tip of stems. The leaves are around 2.5-3 mm long, with rounder stem leaves and pointier branch leaves. Their sporophytes are only abundant in late winter and early spring, and appears as a red-brown shoot with long stalk and cylindrical capsules.
Polytrichum strictum, commonly known as bog haircap moss or strict haircap, is an evergreen and perennial species of moss native to Sphagnum bogs and other moist habitats in temperate climates. It has a circumboreal distribution, and is also found in South America and Antarctica.
Fissidens limbatus commonly known as Herzog's pocket-moss, is a moss in the family Fissidentaceae. This species is found growing in high elevations in tropical America in addition to the US, Mexico and Canada. Montagne first collected F. crispus in 1838.
Ptychostomum pseudotriquetrum, commonly known as marsh bryum, is a species of moss belonging to the family Bryaceae. It is distinguished by its strongly decurrent leaves that extend down the stem, central leaf stalks which may extend slightly beyond the tip of the leaf, dioicy, and long stems densely matted with rhizoids. It is found worldwide, excluding the tropics.
Syntrichia latifolia, formerly Tortula latifolia, and commonly known as water screw-moss, is a species of moss belonging to the family Pottiaceae. Syntrichia species differ from members of Tortula due to synapomorphic leaf qualities, such as different basal and distal cells, as well as different costal cross sections where Tortula has an abaxial epidermis and Syntrichia lacks one.
Bartramiopsis lescurii, also known as false apple moss, is found in North America from Washington to Alaska, in East Russia, and Japan. This moss is in the Polytrichaceae family, however unlike most mosses in this family, Bartramiopsis lescurii does not have peristome teeth.