Moss Specimen

Collected on October 23, 2007, from the Devil's Punchbowl, North Granville, Queens County, PEI (46°24'21.05"N, 63°29'8.18"W. Datum: WGS84). Collected from a steeply sloped depression with a stream, the banks of which were covered in mosses. The substrate was a decayed red maple about 1m up.

Platygyrium repens grows to a small to moderately large size with short stems. The ascending stems grow 1cm in length and are curved at the apex. The leaves are ascending to imbricate (scale-like), 0.8-1mm in length and curve backwards from the base. Platygyrium repens reproduces asexually through brood branchlets. It grows in neat patches that are tightly appressed to the substrate. Often times the center of the mat is dark green in colour as if it has had oil spilled on it, giving the moss it's common name "oil-spill moss". Platygyrium repens is commonly confused for Hypnum resupinatum.

Platygyrium repens is commonly found growing on bark in damp woodlands, but may also be found in orchards and hedgerows. It rapidly colonizes trees, spreading through its deciduous branchlets. It can be found growing low on tree trunks but is most commonly found on higher on trunks or branches. Rarely is it found on dead or rotting wood. Geographically it is found in temperate climates including throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. It is commonly found in each of the Maritime provinces, but less so in Prince County, PEI.