Although the leafy shoots are buried within a different moss, the presence of this Rosulabryum is evident by the abundant and very large sporangia, or capsules. |
Like many other groups of mosses, those in the family Bryaceae are difficult to identify. The available keys are highly technical and difficult to for non-specialists to follow. The two species of Rosulabryum are presented together here because of those difficulties. R. capillare (Hedwig) J. R. Spence (Bryaceae) is common throughout North America, including Canada and our western states. According to Flora North America, it is not found in Florida, but the related species R. pseudocapillare (Besch.) Ochyra takes its place. However, numerous collections made in Florida have been identified by experts as R. capillare, along with many labeled as R. pseudocapillare.
Rosulabryum is common in Central Florida and produces abundant nodding, nearly cylindrical sporangia (capsules) in the springtime. It can be found most readily in wet soil at the margins of receding ponds, forming mounds of upright stems. It might almost be considered weedy, as it also pops up readily in pots containing wet, organic soil, and in wet soil along sidewalks.
Rosulabryum was formerly included in the genus Bryum, having been segregated out on details that are hard to follow in the formal keys. In Florida, only Bryum argenteum remains in the original genus, which incidentally gives its name to the entire clade of non-vascular plants we call Bryophytes. B. argenteum differs from Rosulabryum in its more compact growth form, its grayish coloration, and leaves that press flat against the stem when dry. The dried leaves of Rosulabryum twist around the stem.
Nearly ripe sporangia of Rosulabryum are cylindrical and bright green. |
The leaves of Rosulabryum become twisted when dry. |
Leaves of Rosulabryum, like other members of the famly, have a strong midrib (or costa). |
Leaf cells of Rosulabryum, are thin-willed, revealing many distinct chloroplasts within. |
The leafy shoots of Rosulabryum peudocapillare produce many thread like reproductive structures called filiform gemmae, while those of R. capillare rarely do. |