Moss Specimen

Date2007

Object numberHF.2012.49.16

DescriptionA sample of Plagiomnium cuspidatum [Hedw.] T. Kop. plus Radula complanate [Linnaeus] Dum., and Brachythecium sp moss. Dark-green in colour with short, tightly curled leaves. At the center is a small section of light-green moss with feather-like leaves below a small clump of light-brown fiber. The reverse has dark brown sediment combined with small rows of light-brown organic material.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Order: Hypnales
Family: Hypnaceae Schimp.
Genus: Callicladium H.A. Crum
Species: Callicladium haldanianum [Grev.] Crum

Narrative

Collected August 7, 2007, by Rosemary Curley 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 the three Maritime provinces, but is less common in Prince County, PEI.

This moss is often used for lining the nests of birds, such as Barn Swallows, Cedar Waxwings, and American Robins among others.

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