Moss Specimen

Date2007

Dimensions2 x 2.5 x 5.5 cm (13/16 x 1 x 2 3/16 in.)

Object numberHF.2012.49.2

DescriptionA dense sample of Dicranum montanum Hedw. moss, brown-green in colour with short, fine, curled leaves. Leaves are costate and branch close to the stem. Top is speckled with small white-green clumps. Side cross-section is light brown in colour at the top, and at the mid-section the stems become light brown. Base is dark brown with specks of white. Sample widens at the middle and narrows on either end. Top is flat and rounds downward towards the narrow ends. Commonly known as Mountain Broom moss or Montane Dicranum moss.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Order: Dicranales
Family: Dicranaceae
Genus: Dicranum
Narrative

Collected July 18, 2007, by Rosemary Curley from the Basin Head Dunes, Bothwell, PEI (46°22'44.46"N, 62°6'24.54"W. Datum: NAD83). Collected growing on old stunted black spruce.

Dicranum montanum Hedw. moss commonly grows in dense tufts up to 4 cm high with weak clustered brachlets. This is one of the smallest species of the Dicranum genus present in North America and is commonly referred to as "forked moss" due to the forked peristome teeth. Dicranum montanum Hedw. grows on the surface of rotting stumps, logs, and at tree bases, favoring deciduous trees. It can occasionally be found growing in soil or humus on rock surface, especially boulders and cliff ledges, in dry to mesic woods, and is rarely found in swamps.

It is found within the geographic areas of Southern Asia, North America, Europe and Northern Asia with the exception of China.

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