Plant Guide > Mosses and Lichens > Mosses > Genus Mnium > Mnium Affine Moss

Mnium Affine Moss

Mnium affine, Bland.

Habit and habitat.--Common on shaded banks and roots of trees. Bright, pale-green, loosely tufted with long sterile shoots arched or prostrate.

Name.-The specific name, affine, from the Latin affinis, related, refers to the resemblance of this species to Mnium cuspidatum with which it has often been confused.

Plant (gametophyte).-One to two inches high with brown filaments at the base.

Leaves.-Spreading, recurved and crisped on the borders when dry; the lower stem-leaves round egg-shaped with the narrow end next to the stem; the middle stem-leaves oblong egg-shaped, growing more or less down the stem; the upper stem-leaves inverted egg-shaped and long spatulate crowded into a rosette; margins acutely toothed all round; vein extending beyond the apex to form a sharp point.

Habit of flowering.-Male and female flowers on separate plants (dioicous); male plants terminating in disks.

Veil (calyptra). -Split up one side.

Spore-case. -Clustered, 1 to 3, rarely 5 to 6; pendent, oblong; green until fully ripe, then yellow-brown.

Pedicel (seta).-Slender, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long.

Lid (operculum).-Convex, short, sharp-pointed.

Teeth (Peristome).-As in the genus. The outer yellow, the inner orange.

Annulus.-Narrow, rolling back as the lid falls.

Spores.-Mature in spring.

Distribution.-Universal.