Specimen #1 The Delicate Fern Moss

Figure 3. Close up of Thuidium delicatulum

Figure 2. Thuidium delicatulum seta and capsule with operculum.

Figure 4. Peristome teeth of Thuidium delicatulum

Name: Thuidium delicatulum The Delicate Fern Moss
Family: Thuidiaceae

Collection Date: Sept. 26, 2011

Habitat: Terrestrial moss found on rocks, soil, logs, stumps, and the bases of trees

Location: Hiram College Field Station woods

Description: Thick, yellow-green, fern-like, mesh-work of branched stems growing on the roots of a tree.
Collector: Jennifer Friedler

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

Keying Steps:

Introduction key pg. 19

1a. has stem and leaves; erect, ascending, prostrate, or hanging...2

2b. No hayline cells...3

3b. Green...pg. 28. Order Bryidae

Key to Families/Genera Bryidae pg. 28

1b. Green, one layer of cells...3

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

7b. No isodiometeric cells...8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent...9

9b. Has a seta...10

10b. Distinct stem; has operculum...17

17b. Large plant...20

20b. Costa but no lamellae...28

28b. ….................................33

33b. ….................................139

139a. Papillose...140

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

150b. Not fern-like erect or dendroid...152

152b. Leaves not oval...153

153b. One costa to the middle of leaves in some leaves...159

159b. Not complanate...160

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

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

163b. Small papillae; often more than one on a 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...pg 174 Thuidium

Key to Genera Thuidium pg 174

1b. large plants...4

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

5b. stem leaves erect; no cilia on perichaetial leaves...6

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

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

"Plants in robust green or yellow-green mats, stem 3-8cm spreading or arched-ascending, on soil humus, decaying wood, rocks or tree bases, in moist areas, Alaska to Labrador south to Arizona, in the east to the Gulf States."  (Conrad 176).

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=THDE10

http://www.thismia.com/T/Thuidium_delicatulum.html

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