Plant Guide > Mosses and Lichens > Mosses > Genus Euhypnum > Hypnum Curvifolium Moss

Hypnum Curvifolium Moss

Hypnum curvifolium, Hedw.

Habit and habitat.-This attractive moss grows in intricate tufts, yellowish-green and glossy. It is very common on decayed logs in shady woods.

Name.-The specific name, is from the Latin curvum, and folium, a leaf.

Plant (gametophyte).-Large, stems, 3 to 4 prostrate with but few branches, these featherbranchlets compressed, unequal, and short.

Leaves.-Crowded, in two rows, each leaf overlapping the one in front, scythe-shaped concave and turned to one side; base, eared; apex gradually long taperpointed; margin slightly serrate; vein absent or slightly evident at the base, cells above pale, narrow, linear and worm-like; cells of the base and angles, shorter, broader, and golden-yellow.

Leaves at the base of the pedicel (perichaetial leaves).-Numerous, whitish, erect; and close, the cells loose.

Habit of flowering.-Male and female flowers on separate plants (dioicous).

Veil (calyptra).-Thin and split up one side.

Spore-case.-Large, oblong, swollen, and arched, when young; thin and distinctly ribbed, when dry.

Pedicel.-Long and slender.

Lid (operculum).-Conical, with a short abrupt point.

Teeth (peristome).-Yellow with small blade-like projections on the inside ; segments of the inner membrane slightly cleft ; cilia 2 to 3, nearly as long as the segments.

Annulus.-With three rows of cells, rolling back as the lid falls.

Spores.-Mature in fall.

Distribution.-North America.

Hypnum Curvifolium picture