Mosses of Central Florida 47. Aulocomnium palustre

Aulacomnium palustre (Hedwig) Schwagrichen (Aulacomniaceae) forms tufted colonies of upright leafy shoots on wet soil, marshes, swamps, and sometimes rocks.  It employs asexual propagation via small, modified, bullet-shaped or spear-point leaves clustered at the tips of elongate stems.

The upright shoots of Aulacomnium palustre form loose tufts
on wet soil. Photo by Robert A. Klips.

The leaves are elongate, with a prominent midrib, and gradually come to a point.  Leaf cells are small, roundish and papillose.  Spore capsules are bent to the side, and distinctly grooved, but are not commonly seen in our area, as asexual propagation is abundant.

A single tapered leaf of Aulacomnium palustre, showing
the prominent midrib and tiny, rounded cells.
Photo courtesy Western New Mexico Herbarium,
from the Gila Wilderness.

This species is found in every state and province of North America and throughout the northern hemisphere.  In Florida it has been collected in scattered counties in the northern half of the state, as far south as Polk County.