Specimen #8: Mnium cuspidatum

                                           Figure 1: Close up of leaves

                                            Figure 2: Sporophyte

                                           Figure 3: Leaves arranged around the stem

Name: Mnium (Plagiomnium) cuspidatum
Family: Mniaceae

Common Name: woodsy moss

Collection Date:  October 20, 2011

Habitat: Growing under a tree

Location: The Nature Realm

Description: "Plants in dark green to yellow-green mats with fertile stems erect, 1-2cm high, on shaded soil and rocks, widespread in North America..(Conrad and Redfearn,1979)." 

Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1a. Plant with stems and leaves,.. rhizoids multicellular,.. no elaters in capsule.. 2

2b. Plants not sphagnidae.. 3

3b. Plants not andreaeidae.. p.28 subclass bryidae

Key to Genera

1b. Green, brown, yellow plants.. not in 2 or 3 layers.. 3

3b. Leaves inserted in 3 or more rows.. 7

7b. Plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth.. 8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.. 9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above.. 10

10b. Plants without a distinct stem, capsule with operculum.. 17

17b. Plants minute to large, capsules minute to exerted.. 20

20b. Leaves without photosynthetic outgrowths.. 28

28b. Plants don't only grow on organic matter.. peristome single or double.. 33

33a. Stems erect, unbranched, generally in tufts.. 34

34b. Leaves, especially bases, not as above.. 36

36b. Leaf cells smooth.. 83

83b. Plant growing on soil, rock, or trees but not forming long creeping stems.. 85

85b. Larger mosses, stems usually 4 mm or more tall, if minute, with persistent protonema.. 91

91b. Leaves in 5 ranks.. 92

92b. Leaves 1-5 times as long as broad.. 111

111b. Leaves bright or dark green.. 115

115b. Upper leaf cells quadrate, hexagonal, rhombic, or short-rectangular, 6 times or less as long as wide.. 118

118b. Upper leaf cells hexagonal, rhombic, or short-rectangular.. 125

125a. Marginal cells similar to those of lamina.. 132

132a. Upper leaf cells with pointed ends.. 133

133b. Plants not dendroid, smaller, to 5cm tall though usually smaller.. (p.129) Mnium

Key to Species

1b. Margins of leaves toothed.. 3

3b. Leaves with a border of elongated cells.. 4

4b. Marginal teeth single.. 8

8b. Erect fruiting stem arising from horizontal from horizontal runners.. 9

9b. Leaf cells longer in one axis than another, not precisely hexagonal.. 10

10b. Leaves much less broadly decurrent or not at all.. 11

11a. Leaves serrate only in upper 1/2 or 2/3.. Mnium cuspidatum

Links:

http://bobklips.com/latemay2010.html   

http://www.ohio.edu/plantbio/vislab/moss/Davespage.html

http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/bryophytes/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=PLACUS

Specimen #7 Star Moss

                                           Figure 1: Close up of leaves

                                    Figure 2: Leaves again (note that the leaves are very wilted and
                                    distorted compared to what they look like when growing in nature)

Name: Atrichum angustatum
Family:  Polytrichaceae

Common Name: star moss 

Collection Date:  October 20, 2011

Habitat: Growing in very moist soil on the ground

Location: The Nature Realm

Description: "Plants medium sized, in loose, dull, dark green to brownish-green tufts, on light, often sandy soil in woods, ditches, roadbanks, and disturbed areas..(Conrad and Redfearn,1979)." 

Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1a. Plant with stems and leaves,.. rhizoids multicellular,.. no elaters in capsule.. 2

2b. Plants not sphagnidae.. 3

3b. Plants not andreaeidae.. p.28 subclass bryidae

Key to Genera

1b. Green, brown, yellow plants.. not in 2 or 3 layers.. 3

3b. Leaves inserted in 3 or more rows.. 7

7b. Plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth.. 8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.. 9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above.. 10

10b. Plants without a distinct stem, capsule with operculum.. 17

17b. Plants minute to large, capsules minute to exerted.. 20

20b. Leaves without photosynthetic outgrowths.. 28

28b. Plants don't only grow on organic matter.. peristome single or double.. 33

33a. Stems erect, unbranched, generally in tufts.. 34

34b. Leaves, especially bases, not as above.. 36

36b. Leaf cells smooth.. 83

83b. Plant growing on soil, rock, or trees but not forming long creeping stems.. 85

85b. Larger mosses, stems usually 4 mm or more tall, if minute, with persistent protonema.. 91

91b. Leaves in 5 ranks.. 92

92b. Leaves 1-5 times as long as broad.. 111

111b. Leaves bright or dark green.. 115

115b. Upper leaf cells quadrate, hexagonal, rhombic, or short-rectangular, 6 times or less as long as wide.. 118

118b. Upper leaf cells hexagonal, rhombic, or short-rectangular.. 125

125b. Marginal cells slender, fusiform, not similar to cells of lamina.. 126

126a. Capsules erect; peristome single, composed of 32 teeth.. 127

127a. Leaves oval-oblong.. margins serrate.. costa bearing a few short lamellae.. (p.223) Atrichum 


Key to Species
1a. Upper leaf cells averaging 12-17 u in longest dimension; leaves narrow, those near the middle of the stem usually less than 1mm wide.. Atrichum angustatum


Links: 
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ATAN3
http://ohiomosslichen.org/MossID25.html 
http://www.thismia.com/A/Atrichum_angustatum.html 

Specimen #6 Thuidium recognitum

                                           Figure 1: Close up of leaves

                                           Figure 2: Close up of the leaves insertion on the stem

                                           Figure 3: Leaf tip

Name: Thuidium recognitum
Family:  Thuidiaceae

Common Name: thuidium moss 

Collection Date:  October 20, 2011

Habitat: Growing on the soil by a pond

Location: The Nature Realm

Description: "Robust plants in rigid light-to-yellow-green or yellow-brown mats, stems 4-9cm long, on soil, humus,logs, tree bases in wet to dry woods.. (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)."
Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1a. Plant with stems and leaves,.. rhizoids multicellular,.. no elaters in capsule.. 2

2b. Plants not sphagnidae.. 3

3b. Plants not andreaeidae.. p.28 subclass bryidae

Key to Genera

1b. Green, brown, yellow plants.. not in 2 or 3 layers.. 3

3b. Leaves inserted in 3 or more rows.. 7

7b. Plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth.. 8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.. 9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above.. 10

10b. Plants without a distinct stem, capsule with operculum.. 17

17b. Plants minute to large, capsules minute to exerted.. 20

20b. Leaves without photosynthetic outgrowths.. 28

28b. Plants don't only grow on organic matter.. peristome single or double.. 33

33b. Stems creeping or ascending, usually extensively branched, in interwoven mats.. 139

139a. Leaves papillose, or at least on dorsal side and upper half of leaf.. 140

140b. Papillae located over the cell-cavity.. 150

150b. Plants not conspicuously fern-like or dendroid.. 152

152b. Leaves no oval, rounded at apex.. 153

153b. Leaves with single costa reaching the middle of leaf or beyond in some.. 159

159b. Plants not complanate.. 160

160b. Capsule when present exserted beyond perichaetial leaves.. 161

161b. Papillae not forming a single row over the center of cells.. 163

163b. Papillae smaller, often several or one cell.. 164

164b. Paraphyllia numerous, filamentous, mostly branched.. 172

172b. Paraphyllia not attached to leaves.. 173

173a. Apical cell of branch leaves crowned with 2-4 papillae.. p.174 Thuidium

Key to Species

1b. Plants large to robust; leaf cells stoutly unipapillose.. 4

4b. Stems 2-3 pinnate, spreading or curved-ascending.. 5

5a. Stem leaves spreading-recurved, papillae on paraphyllia near the upper end of the cell; perichaetial leaves without cilia.. Thuidium recognitum

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=THRE7

http://www.sagebud.com/thuidium-moss-thuidium-recognitum/

http://www.ualberta.ca/~mjs14/bryopics/pages/Thuidium%20recognitum.htm

 

Specimen #5 Delicate Thuidium Moss

                                           Figure 1: Leaf of fern-like moss

                                           Figure 2: Capsule

                                           Figure 3: Peristome teeth

                                          Figure 4: Mat-like structure of the moss growing on a log

Name: Thuidium delicatulum
Family:  Thuidiaceae

Collection Date:  October 4, 2011

Habitat: Growing on a piece of wood near a stream in the cave

Location: West Woods

Description: "Plants in robust green or yellow-green mats, stem 3-8cm long, spreading or arched-ascending, on soil, humus, decaying wood, rocks, or tree bases, in moist areas (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)."
Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1a. Plant with stems and leaves,.. rhizoids multicellular,.. no elaters in capsule.. 2

2b. Plants not sphagnidae.. 3

3b. Plants not andreaeidae.. p.28 subclass bryidae

Key to Genera

1b. Green, brown, yellow plants.. not in 2 or 3 layers.. 3

3b. Leaves inserted in 3 or more rows.. 7

7b. Plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth.. 8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.. 9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above.. 10

10b. Plants without a distinct stem, capsule with operculum.. 17

17b. Plants minute to large, capsules minute to exerted.. 20

20b. Leaves without photosynthetic outgrowths.. 28

28b. Plants don't only grow on organic matter.. peristome single or double.. 33

33b. Stems creeping or ascending, usually extensively branched, in interwoven mats.. 139

139a. Leaves papillose, or at least on dorsal side and upper half of leaf.. 140

140b. Papillae located over the cell-cavity.. 150

150b. Plants not conspicuously fern-like or dendroid.. 152

152b. Leaves no oval, rounded at apex.. 153

153b. Leaves with single costa reaching the middle of leaf or beyond in some.. 159

159b. Plants not complanate.. 160

160b. Capsule when present exserted beyond perichaetial leaves.. 161

161b. Papillae not forming a single row over the center of cells.. 163

163b. Papillae smaller, often several or one cell.. 164

164b. Paraphyllia numerous, filamentous, mostly branched.. 172

172b. Paraphyllia not attached to leaves.. 173

173a. Apical cell of branch leaves crowned with 2-4 papillae.. p.174 Thuidium

 

Key to Species

1b. Plants large to robust; leaf cells stoutly unipapillose.. 4

4b. Stems 2-3 pinnate, spreading or curved-ascending.. 5

5b. Steam leaves erect, papillae near middle of cell.. 6

6a. Steam leaves not ending in a capillary point; perichaetial leaves ciliate.. 7

7a. Stems regularly bi- or tripinnately branched; inner perichaetial ending in a hair point.. Thuidium delicatulum  

 

Links:

http://mountainmoss.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1092 

http://www.ohio.edu/plantbio/vislab/moss/byrd.htm

http://www.sagebud.com/delicate-thuidium-moss-thuidium-delicatulum/ 

 

Specimen #4 Moss

                                           Figure 1: Polytrichum being dissected in a petridish

                                           Figure 2: An individual leaf

                                           Figure 3: Close-up phyllid arrangement

                                          Figure 4: Mature sporophyte capsule

                                          Figure 5: Young sporophyte

Name: Polytrichum ohioense
Family:  Polytrichaceae

Collection Date:  October 4, 2011

Habitat: Directly growing from soil

Location: West Woods

Description: "Robust plants in dark-green to brown loose tufts, 1.5-6cm high, on soil and humus in woods, widespread in eastern North America (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)."
Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1a. Plant with stems and leaves,.. rhizoids multicellular,.. no elaters in capsule.. 2

2b. Plants not sphagnidae.. 3

3b. Plants not andreaeidae.. p.28 subclass bryidae

 

Key to Genera

1b. Green, brown, yellow plants.. not in 2 or 3 layers.. 3

3b. Leaves inserted in 3 or more rows.. 7

7b. Plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth.. 8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.. 9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above.. 10

10b. Plants without a distinct stem, capsule with operculum.. 17

17b. Plants minute to large, capsules minute to exerted.. 20

 20a. Leaves with filiform green photosynthetic outgrowths on upper surface or lamellae.. 21

21b. Leaves with vertical lamellae on upper surface.. 23

23b. Leaves toothed on margin or with translucent sides folded over upper surface.. 24

24b. Lamellae on upper surface of leave more than 20; calyptra hairy.. 27

27b. Capsule 4-6 angled, calyptra slightly hairy; leaves entire to serrate.. p.227 Polytrichum

Key to Species

1b. End cells of lamellae smooth; calyptra hairy.. 2

2b. Leaves ending in an awn.. 3

3b. Margins of leaf scarcely taller than lamellae.. 5

5b. End cells peculiar in shape and thickening of walls.. 7

7b. End cells wider than high, the upper wall thickened.. Polytrichum ohioense

 

Links:

http://www.ohio.edu/plantbio/vislab/moss/Polytrichum.html 

http://bryophytes.plant.siu.edu/imPolytrichumOhioense.html

http://www.sagebud.com/ohio-polytrichum-moss-polytrichum-ohioense/ 

 

 

Specimen #3 Leafy Liverwort

                                           Figure 1: Close-up view of the unique leaves

                                           Figure 2: Nowellia growing in its natural environment

                                           Figure 3: Very tiny liverwort leaves

Name: Nowellia curvifolia
Family:  Cephaloizaceae

Collection Date:  October 8, 2011

Habitat: Woody pieces of debris under a tree

Location: Hiram College Field Station woods

Description: Very small leafy liverwort with unique, deeply lobbed leaves. Hard to dissect without a high-power microscope. Light green in color and in a dense tuft.
Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1b.Plants with stems and leaves, the larger leaves in two rows on the stem and a third row of leaves...present, ...sporophyte short-lived.....4

4b. Plants ...leafy,....sporophyte with sphaerical or ellipsoidal capsule...5

5b. Plants slightly flattened, distinctly divided into stem and leaf....8

8b. Archegonia at the end of the thallus, terminating its further growth, with only one developing into a sporophyte, usually surrounded at the base by a perianth.....9

9a. Rhizoids present: ........pg 232 Order Jungermanniales

 

Key to Families/Genera of Jungermanniales pg. 232

1b. Leaves ....toothed, or divided at tip into 2, 3 or 4 lobes....6

6b. Plants not as above;if bilobed, bifurcate vitta absent...7

7a. Leaves...succubous...8

8b. Leaves lobed or their margins with distinct teeth...16

16b. Leaves not complicate-bilobed...18

18a. Leaves transversely inserted on stem.. 19

19b. Leaves mostly bilobed.. 23

23a. Lobes of leaves ciliate.. p.248 Nowellia

 

Nowellia curvifolia

"Plants in loose, prostrate patches, usually green though sometimes rosy or reddish tinged, with unique leaves, on moist decaying logs, eastern North America (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)."

 

Links

http://kiva.lib.utk.edu/heilman/items/show/12800 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=NOCU3 

http://symbiota.org/bryophytes/taxa/index.php?taxon=160035 

  

Specimen #2 Moss

                                           Figure 1: Peristome teeth

                                           Figure 2: Phyllids

                                          Figure 3: The moss is growing on dead wood

Name: Ditrichum pusillum
Family:  Ditrichaceae

Collection Date:  October 4, 2011

Habitat: Growing on a piece of dead wood in the shade

Location: West Woods

Description: Very small branches of leaves with sporophytes extending high above.  The seta is an orangish-red color.
Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1a. Plant with stems and leaves,.. rhizoids multicellular,.. no elaters in capsule.. 2

2b. Plants not sphagnidae.. 3

3b. Plants not andreaeidae.. p.28 subclass bryidae

Key to Genera

1b. Green, brown, yellow plants.. not in 2 or 3 layers.. 3

3b. Leaves inserted in 3 or more rows.. 7

7b. Plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth.. 8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.. 9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above.. 10

10b. Plants without a distinct stem, capsule with operculum.. 17

17b. Plants minute to large, capsules minute to exerted.. 20

20b. Leaves without photosynthetic outgrowths.. 28

28b. Plants don't only grow on organic matter.. peristome single or double.. 33

33a. Stems erect, unbranched, generally in tufts.. 34

34b. Leaves, especially bases, not as above.. 36

36b. Leaf cells smooth.. 83

83b. Plant growing on soil, rock, or trees but not forming long creeping stems.. 85

85a. Very small mosses, less than 4 mm tall, difficult to identify without capsules.. 86

86b. Seta longer, capsule not immersed.. 89

89b. Plants green, growing on soil or rocks, peristome divided into threads.. 90

90a. Teeth divided into threads.. p.69 Ditrichum (Order Dicranales)

Key to Genera Ditrichum

1a. Leaves long, more or less erect to loosely spreading, awn slender.. 2

2b. Seta red.. 3

3a. Plants 5-10 mm tall, leaves erect to somewhat spreading, margins more or less revolute.. Ditrichum pusillum

Links:

http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/content/ditrichum-pusillum 

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200000868 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DIPU7

Specimen #1 Thallus Liverwort

                                                Figure 1: Thallus liverwort in natural environment

                            Figure 2: Close-up of pores on thallus surface ("Liverworts," 2001)

Name: Conocephalum conicum
Family:  Conocephalaceae
Common Name: Great scented liverwort 

Collection Date:  September 14, 2011

Habitat: On the side of a rock embedded into the landscape

Location: South Chagrin Reservation

Description: "Conocephalum conicum, commonly known as the snake liverwort, is the largest of the thalloid liverworts. Its pale to dark green thallus can grow up to 20 cm long. The dorsal surface of C. conicum is covered with tiny hexagons, which makes the entire thallus seem snake-like." (www.botany.ubc.ca)

Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1b.Plants with stems and leaves, the larger leaves in two rows on the stem and a third row of leaves...present, ...sporophyte short-lived.....4

4b. Plants ...leafy,....sporophyte with sphaerical or ellipsoidal capsule...5

5a. Plants strongly flattened without distinction between stem and leaf... 6

6a. Opaque thallus.. rhizoids of two kinds.. sporophyte capsule not dividing regularly into four valves... p.239 Order Marchantiales

Key to Genera of Marchantiales p.239

1a. Pores visible without lens... 8

8b. Thalli without gemmae, and without marginal scales on underside... 10

10a. Air pore on low mound of colorless cells; antheridia in warty spot on thallus.. p.283 Conocephalum

Key to Family Conocephalaceae- Genus Conocephalum

Thalli pale to dark green above, purplish below, 1-2cm wide, up to 20cm long, dichotomously branching, upper surface with distinct polygonal areas, pores distinct, on moist rocks and soil, widespread in North America.

Links:

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week234.shtml

http://www.botany.ubc.ca/bryophyte/conocephalum.html

http://bryophytes.plant.siu.edu/imConocephalumConicum.html

Picture Reference:

Biology 321 course website. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.botany.ubc.ca/bryophyte/index.html