Moss Specimen

Date2007

Dimensions1 x 5.5 x 9.5 cm (3/8 x 2 3/16 x 3 3/4 in.)

Object numberHF.2012.49.21

DescriptionA large sample of dried Ptilium crista-castrensis [Hedw.] De Not. plus Pleurozium schreberi [Brid.] Mitt moss in shades of brown, yellow-green, and light-green. Branches are tightly packed with small, feather-like leaves resembling miniature Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Leaves are opposite each other on the stem which is green-brown in colour. Reverse looks similar to the front but is a darker shade of brown towards the left side. Sample is vaguely rectangular in shape.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Viridiplantae
Class: Bryophyta
Order: Hypnales
Family: Hypnaceae
Genus: Ptilium De Not
Species: Ptilium crista-castrensis (Hedw.) De Not.

Narrative

Collected on August 7, 2007 by Rosemary Curley in Richmond, Prince County, PEI (46°31'10.38"N, 63°59'46.32"W Datum: NAD83). Collected from an 85-year-old black spruce.

The genus name of Ptilium crista-castrensis (Hedw.) De Not. refers to the feather-like growth of the flat shoots which form mats along the forest understory. It's regular branches grow in almost right angles to the main shoot with distinctive, pleated falcate-secund (curved) leaves that point towards the base of the shoot. Stems grow to 11 cm high with leaves 2-3mm in length. Depending on the amount of sunlight available, Ptilium crista-castrensis (Hedw.) will look dark green to orange-gold in colour.

Ptilium crista-castrensis (Hedw.) commonly grows on the floor of coniferous forests and can occasionally be found on bog margins. It frequently grows in acid, damp, peaty or humus right soil in shaded areas on the ground or on boulders. Geographically it is found circumpolar in Boreal regions. It is found throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Within the Maritimes, Ptilium crista-castrensis can be found in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI, excluding Prince County, PEI.

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