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

Pointed Mnium Moss

The Pointed Mnium, Mnium cuspidatum, Hedw.

Habit and habitat.-The Pointed Mnium (Mnium cuspidatum) is one of the prettiest of the genus and is to be found in shaded places on the ground in almost every state and territory in the Union.

Name.-J. G. Hedwig, a German botanist, named this species from the Latin cuspidatum, a point, on account of the apex of the leaves.

Plants (gametophyte).-Simple, the young shoots bright palegreen, the older stems dark-green, the sterile shoots prostrate or somewhat erect.

Leaves.-All with a short sharp point at the apex, vein extending beyond the apex to form the point, Stem-leaves with the base growing downward on the stem (decurrent) oval-oblong or obovate-spatulate ; branch-leaves smaller, rounded-oval; all much crisped when dry; margin with 3 to 5 rows of yellow cells, and a single row of spiny teeth in the upper half.

Leaves at the base of the pedicel (perichaetial leaves).-Spatulate.

Habit of flowering.-Male and female flowers in the same cluster (synoicous).

Veil (calyptra).-Split up one side.

Spore-case.-Solitary, somewhat pendulous, oval-oblong.

Pedicel.-Solitary, pale.

Lid (operculum).-Conical, obtuse.

Annulus.-Narrow, rolling back as the lid is pushed off.

Teeth (peristome).-The outer yellow, the inner orange, solid, the segments open on the keel, thread-like and sharp-pointed at the apex; cilia usually three between each tooth.

Spores.-Mature in spring.

Distribution.-In almost every state of the Union, also in Europe.