Moss Specimen

Date2007

Dimensions0.5 x 4 x 5 cm (3/16 x 1 9/16 x 1 15/16 in.)

Object numberHF.2012.49.12

DescriptionA circular shaped piece of dark green Plagiomnium cuspidatum [Hedw.] T. Kop moss intermixed with brown sediment. Leaves and stems are tightly clumped together. Stems are thin and red-brown in colour with small, thin, light-green coloured leaves branching off. A small stick is caught on the ourter edge and points inward. The reverse is dark brown in colour with a grey-brown section along a section of the outer edge.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Order: Bryales
Family: Mniaceae
Genus: Plagiomnium
Species: Plagiomnium cuspidatum [Hedw.] T. Kop.

Narrative

Collected August 7, 2007, by Rosemary Curely in Northam Hardwood Ridge, Prince County, PEI (46°32'39.44"N, 63°56'9.13"W.) Collected growing in a wet patch.

Plagiomnium cuspidatum [Hedwig] T.J. Kopponen is a short lived, perennial moss with unbranched stems up to 7.5cm in length. It's alternate leaves are arranged horizontally along the stem and are 2.5-5mm long. The leaves have fine, sharp teeth along their margins. When dry, the leaves darken and become crinkled, and straighten with moist again. Fertile shoots produce erect, unbranched stems up to 2 cm in length and develop a nodding spore capsule on a long stalk.

Plagiomnium cuspidatum grows in cool climates and in habitats with partial sun to moderate shade in moist, well drained conditions. It will grow in loan, clay, humus, gravel, or sand. It can also adapt to shady moist rock surfaces. Geographically it can be found throughout North American, Europe, Asia, Central America and New Zealand. Locally it is found throughout all three Maritime provinces, but is less common in Prince County, PEI.

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