Gymnostomum

Gymnostomum aeruginosum

Gymnostomum ( German Nude Open Mouth Moose ) is a common cosmopolitan genus of mosses, from the family of Pottiaceae.

Features

The species usually colonize limestone rock on usually very humid locations, forming dense cushions lawn. The upright and dichotomously branched shoots are up about 3 inches tall, rarely higher. The Stämmchenquerschnitt usually shows a central strand. The ovate - lanceolate to linealischen leaves are blunt to acuminate, entire to krenuliert, margins flat or up slightly inflected. The strong midrib ending in leaf tip or shortly before. Wet the leaves are upright projecting to bent back, bent more or less dry and rotated, but not curled. The cells are rectangular and smooth at the base of the leaf, in the upper blade portion and rounded papillae.

The upright, ovate to ellipsoidal spore capsules on about 3 to 6 mm long and also upright Seta have no peristome (name ). The capsule cap is beaked, the calyptra hood -shaped. The species are dioecious.

The species of the genus often have a strong similarity with other members of Pottiaceae family, especially with species of the genera Anoectangium, Gyroweisia, Hymenostylium and Molendoa. A reliable differentiation of sterile plants of the genera mentioned is sometimes very difficult.

Species

Worldwide there are 25 species. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the three listed species are represented:

• Gymnostomum aeruginosum
• Gymnostomum calcareum
• Gymnostomum viridulum