Plant Guide > Mosses and Lichens > Mosses > Genus Calliergon > Red Stemmed Feather Moss

Red Stemmed Feather Moss

The Red-stemmed Feather-moss, Hypnum (Calliergon) Schreberi, Willd.

Habit and habitat.-On shaded ground of hills and mountains.

Name.-The specific name was given by Karl Ludwig Wilidenow in honour of D. J. C. Schreber.

Plant (gametophyte).-Stems rigid, dark-red, branching, the branches with somewhat regularly arranged branchlets; branches and branchlets obtuse at the apex.

Leaves.-Pale-green or yellow, loosely overlapping, broadly oval-oblong, slightly concave; apex obtuse or obtusely pointed, incurved; base recurved on the borders; vein double, short; margin entire; base extending down the stem; cells narrow, four-sided, orange at the base and the basal angles.

Leaves at the base of the pedicel (perichaetial leaves).-The inner sheathing, erect, not plaited; apex short-pointed; vein none.

Leaf-like organs among the leaves (paraphyllia).-None.

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

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

Spore-case.-Oblong, dark-coloured, incurved.

Pedicel (seta).-Dark-red, long, twisted above.

Lid (operculum).-Red, conical, with a sharp point.

Annulus.-None.

Teeth (peristome).-Long, with lamellae on the inside, inner segments split nearly the whole length; hair-like segments three, slightly shorter.

Spores.-Mature in autumn.

Distribution.-North and South America, Europe and Asia.