Plant Guide > Mosses and Lichens > Mosses > Genus Brachythecium > Brachythecium Starkii Moss

Brachythecium Starkii Moss

Brachythecium Starkii, (Brid.) Br. & Sc.

Habit and habitat.--In dark-green, loose mats on fallen logs and old tree-trunks in moist mountain regions.

Name.-The specific name was given in honour of Robert M. Starke.

Plant (gametophyte).-Prostrate, branching, the branches ascending, arched, 1/4 to 1 inch long.

Leaves.-Branch-leaves distant, spreading, oval, lance-shaped, narrowly acute or taper-pointed; apex usually half twisted: base somewhat decurrent; margin serrate; vein extending beyond the middle; cells, the middle linear, the basal shorter and broader; the alar few, rhomboidal to quadrate; stem-leaves broadly oval and long taper-pointed, less strongly serrate, cells looser.

Leaves at the base of the pedicel (perichaetial leaves).-Longer and narrower.

Habit of floaering.-Male and female flowers on one plant (monoicous).

Veil (calyptra).-Split up one side.

Spore-case.-Abruptly horizontal, short egg-shaped, dark redbrown, black when old.

Pedicel (seta).-Rough, red-brown, 1 to 1/4 inches high.

Lid (operculum).-Convex, conical, tipped with a short, sharp point.

Annulus.-Large, of about two rows of cells.

Teeth (peristome).-As in the genus.

Spores.-Chestnut, maturing in autumn and winter.

Distribution-In the northern United States and Canada, across the continent, south to New Jersey; Europe.