Specimen #15 Carpet Moss

Fig. 1 Drying carpet moss branch next to a ruler with 1mm marks.

Fig. 2 Carpet moss leaf, with costa ending below the apex and distinctly elongated margin cells.

Fig. 3 Carpet moss next to a quarter.

Fig. 4 Carpet moss close up; note the lack of rosette leaf pattern on branches.

Specimen 15

Name: Mnium hornum Carpet Moss
Family: Mniaceae

Collection Date: Oct. 8, 2011

Habitat: damp soil

Location: Hiram College Field Station woods, Ohio

Description: dark green, tufted, stems unbranched, leaves well defined and large
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. No lamellae...28

28b. Not growing on rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter...33

33a. Stems erect, tufted, sporophytes terminal...34

34b. No hyaline alar cells...36

36b. Cells smooth...83

83b. Plants growing on rock...85

85b. Larger mosses, stems > 4mm...91

91b stems in five ranks, stem not triangular with outer cells thin walled and colorless...92

92b. Leaves 1-5:1 length...111

111b. Leaves bright or dark green...115

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

118b. Uper leaf cells larger...125

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

126b. Peristome double...128

(at this point I was back tracking from mnium hornum based off of the information and pictures found at this source: Munch, Susan. Outstanding mosses & liverworts of Pennsylvania & nearby states. New Kingston, PA: Sunbury Press, 2006. Print. due to the fact that my specimen lacked sporophytes)

128b. Leaves not in rosettes...129

129b. Upperleaf cells parenchymatous, mostly hexagonal to round...131

131b. Margins serrate...pg. 129 Mnium

Key to Genus Mnium pg. 129

1b. toothed margins...3

3b. margins with distinct elongated cells...4

4a. marginal teeth double...5

5a. leaves long and narrow, costa ending below apex, toothed on back near apex...Mnium hornum

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=Mnium+hornum&mode=sciname

http://www.plantguide.org/mnium-hornum-moss.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/carpet_moss.htm

Specimen #14 Entodon Moss

Fig. 1 Leaf of Entodon Moss.
Fig. 2 Peristome teeth of Entodon moss. 
Fig. 3 Entodon cladorrhizans with red-brown seta, upright cylindrical capsules; growing on a rotten log.

Specimen 14

Name: Entodon cladorrhizans Entadon Moss
Family: Entodontaceae

Collection Date: Oct. 8, 2011

Habitat: rotting log

Location: Hiram College Field Station woods, Ohio

Description: Yellow green, branched, looks like scaled fingers, sporophyte erect, lateral
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. No lamellae...28

28b. Not growing on rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter...33

33b. Branched stems...139

139b. Leaves smooth...174

174b. Paraphyllia or multicellular propagula few, not usually seen...182

182b. Costa single short or absent...183

183b. Costa lacking...184

184b. Costa lacking...230

230b. Terrestrial...231

231a. Median leaf cells long 5-20:1...239

239b. Leaves without one inflated alar cell at extreme basal angle...240

240b. Quadrate alar cells...253

253a. Leaves appressed, broad and entire, jointed peristome...pg. 203 Entodon

1b. leaves acute to apiculate...2

2b. branched flattened...3

3b. plants moderately robust, branches more than 1mm wide...4

4a. seta reddish—brown...Entodon cladorrhizans

“Plants in wide, yellowish-green, sometimes glossy, mats, stems and branches flattened, on soil, logs, tree bases; South Dakota to Rhode Island south to Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina” (Conrad 204).

Links:

http://bobklips.com/october2010.html

http://eol.org/pages/923225/overview

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

Specimen #13 Cephelozia

Fig. 1 Cephelozia on a dead log.

Fig. 2 Cephalozie with bilobed leaves.

Specimen 13

Name: Cephelozia
Family: Cephaloziaceae

Collection Date: Oct. 8, 2011

Habitat: rotting log

Location: Hiram College Field Station woods, Ohio

Description: Very small leafy liverwort, light green, leaves bilobed coming to points, not complicate-bilobed, lacking underleaves
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

1b. Stem and leaves, 2 rows with third rod on underside of stem...4

4b. leafy; more than one chloroplast per cell...5

5b. distinct leaf and stem...8

8b. not fossombronia (this step judged by archegonia which my sample lacked so I looked at what 8a Fossombronia lead to)...9

9a. rhizoids present...pg. 232 Jungermanniales

Key to Order Jungermanniales pg. 232

1b. leaves entire, toothed or divided at tip...6

6b. leaves bilobed without bifurcate vitta...7

7a. succubous leaves...8

8a. leaves lobed...16

16b. Not complicate-bilobed...18

18b. Leaves succubously inserted...27

27b. Underleaves absent...34

34b. Leaves uniformly and simply bilobed...36

36a. Branches ventral in origin, leaf cells noncollenchymatous...37

37a outer cells of stem large, pellucid, underleaves absent...pg. 246 Cephalozia

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CEPHA5

Specimen #12 Hygrohypnum

Name: Hygrohypnum

Family: Amblystegianceae

Collection Date: Sept. 26, 2011

Habitat: damp soil

Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Ohio

Description: noticeably branched, yellowish green to green, creeping, sporophyte erect, lateral
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. No lamellae...28

28b. Not growing on rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter...33

33b. Branched stems...139

139b. Leaves smooth...174

174b. Paraphyllia or multicellular propagula few, not usually seen...182

182b. Costa single short or absent...183

183b. Costa lacking...184

184b. Costa lacking...230

230b. Terrestrial...231

231b. Median leaf cells long 5-20:1...239

239b. Hyaline alar cells...252

252b hyaline alar cells...260

260a. Leaves imbricate to erect open...261

261a. Stems and branches long, slender and stoloniferous at the ends, and bearing small distinct leaves...pg. 186 Hygrohypnum

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HYGRO2

http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/B/Amblystegiaceae/Hygrohypnum/

http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/content/hygrohypnum-eugyrium

Specimen #11 Brotherella recurvans The Recurved Brotherella

Fig. 1 Brotherella recurvans peristome teeth.

Fig. 2 Sporophyte (16X) of brotherella recurvans.

Fig. 3 Brotherella recurvans next to quarter

Specimen 11

Name: Brotherella recurvans
Family: Senatophtllaceae

Collection Date: Sept. 26, 2011

Habitat: damp soil, edge of field and forest

Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Ohio

Description: pale green, light tipped mat with erect sporophyte, capsule at an angle

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. No lamellae...28

28b. Not growing on rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter...33

33b. Branched stems...139

139b. Leaves smooth...174

174b. Paraphyllia or multicellular propagula few, not usually seen...182

182b. Costa single short or absent...183

183b. Costa lacking...184

184b. Costa lacking...230

230b. Terrestrial...231

231a. Median leaf cells long 5-20:1...239

239b. Leaves without one inflated alar cell at extreme basal angle...240

240a. Leaves with several inflated alar cells...241

241b. Alar cells in cluster...242

242a. Alar cells inflated, 3-4...243

243a. Alar cells scarcely decurent, capsule inclined smooth...pg 207 Brotherella

Key to Genus Brotherella pg. 207

1b. Eastern North America...2

2b. Plants medium, distinctly complanate-foliate with falcate leaves...Brotherella recurvans

“Plants in golden sheen mats, on soil, humus, bases of trees, Great Lakes to Nova Scotia south to Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina and Louisiana” (Conrad 208).

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BRRE3

http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=16409
http://eol.org/pages/863839/overview
http://www.gabotsoc.org/forum/index.php?action=recent;start=20

Specimen #10 Schistidium crassipilum (Grimmia apocarpa)

Fig. 1 Grimmia apocarpa next to a quarter.

Fig. 2 Grimmia apocarpa capsule with orange peristome teeth.

Specimen 10

Name: Schistidium crassipilum
Family: Grimmiaceae

Collection Date: Oct.16, 2011

Habitat: damp rock

Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Ohio

Description: Branched, erect, dark-green to black in color; bright red capsule seated in a nest of leaves, lacking a visible seta.
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. No lamellae...28

28b. Not growing on rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter...33

33a. Stems erect, tufted, sporophytes terminal...34

34b. No hyaline alar cells...36

36b. Cells smooth...83

83b. Plants growing on rock...85

85b. Larger mosses, stems > 4mm...91

91b stems in five ranks, stem not triangular with outer cells thin walled and colorless...92

92b. Leaves 1-5:1 length...111

111a. Leaves dense and blackish...112

112b. Walls of cells smooth...113

113b. Leaves without rhizoids...114

114b. Leaves imbricate when dry, ovate to linear-lanceolate, margins plane to narrowly recurved...pg 105 Grimmia

Key to Genus Grimmia pg. 105

1a. upper leaves without whitish hair points...2

2b. apex of most leaves acuminate or acute...3

3b. leaves1.5-3mm long...4

4b. on inland rocks...5

5a. most leaves acuminate from ovate base, capsule oblong, peristome orange...Grimmia apocarpa

“Plants in dense, dark green or brownish tufts, 1-3.5mm high on rocks, usually in dry , exposed places throughout most of North America (not Florida)” (Conrad 106).

Links:

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250075490

http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display&classid=SCAP70

http://eol.org/pages/419930/overview

Specimen #9 The White Cushion Moss

Fig. 1 Leaves of the white cushion moss.

Fig. 2 White cushion moss next to a quarter. 

Fig. 3 16X White cushion moss.

Specimen 9

Name: Leucobryum glaucum The White Cushion Moss
Family: Leucobryaceae

Collection Date: Sept 26, 2011

Habitat: damp rock

Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Ohio

Description:
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

1a. Whitish with 2 kinds of cells throughout leaf, large hyaline cells in 2-3 layers and small green cells between...2

2a. Leaves crowded on upper side...pg. 82 Leucobryum

Key to Genus Leucobryum pg. 82

1a. leaves 5-8mm long...Leucobryum glaucum

“Whitish plants in hemisphaerical cushion 2-9cm or more high, on soil, humus, rotten logs, tree bases, and moist vertical rocks, especially in forests, Newfoundland to Minnesota and South to the gulf states” (Conrad 86).

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LEGL19

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200001035

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/white_cushion_moss.htm

Specimen #8 Platygyrium Moss

Fig. 1 Peristome teeth of Platygyrium moss. 

Fig. 2 Close up of branch of Platygyrium moss.

Specimen 8

Name: Platygyrium repens
Family: Hypnaceae

Collection Date: Oct. 8, 2011

Habitat: decaying log

Location: Hiram College Field Station woods, Ohio

Description: light green, pale tipped, branched, creeping, with sporophytes erect, lateral
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. No lamellae...28

28b. Not growing on rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter...33

33b. Branched stems...139

139b. Leaves smooth...174

174b. Paraphyllia or multicellular propagula few, not usually seen...182

182b. Costa single short or absent...183

183b. Costa lacking...184

184b. Costa lacking...230

230b. Terrestrial...231

231b. Median leaf cells long 5-20:1...239

239a. One inflated cell and many quadrate cells (alar)...pg. 209 Platygyrium

Platygyrium repens

“Plants in flat, dark,- yellowish,- golden,- or brownish-green, glossy mats, branches ascending, usully bearing clusters of minute gemmae, capsules erect and symetric, on logs, stumps, tree trunks, rocks, British Columbia to New Brunswick and throughout eastern North America” (Conrad 209).

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PLRE5

http://www.bioimages.org.uk/html/r151295.htm

http://eol.org/pages/887117/overview

Specimen #7 Porella platyphylla

Fig. 1 Porella Platyphylla next to quarter.  Branched leafy liverwort.

Fig. 2 Underside of porella platyphylla with underleaves.

Fig. 3 Dorsal side of leaves of Porella platyphylla.

Fig. 4 Toothed leaf of porella platyphlla.

Specimen 7

Name: Porella platyphylla
Family: Porellaceae

Collection Date: Oct. 4, 2011

Habitat: damp rock

Location: West Woods

Description: Small leafy liverwort, light green, not glossy, with leaves complicate-bilobed, incubous
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

1b. Stem and leaves, 2 rows with third rod on underside of stem...4

4b. leafy; more than one chloroplast per cell...5

5b. distinct leaf and stem...8

8b. not fossombronia (this step judged by archegonia which my sample lacked so I looked at what 8a Fossombronia lead to)...9

9a. rhizoids present...pg 232 Jungermanniales

Key to Order Jungermanniales pg. 232

1b. leaves entire, toothed or divided at tip...6

6b. leaves bilobed without bifurcate vitta...7

7b. leaves incubous, slope toward base of stem...39

39b. Leaves complicate-bilobed...42

42b. Underleaves present...44

44a. underleaves unlobed...45

45a. 2.5-5mm wide...265 Porella

Key to Genus Porella pg. 265

1b. not glossy, small trigones...4

4b. underleaves wider than stem...5

5b. ventral lobes narrower than underleaves, somewhat tappering at apex...Porella platyphylla

“Plant is dull yellow green to brownish patches, shoots 1-2.5mm wide, up to 8cm long, 2-3 pinnate, on rocks, trees, and soil, widespread in North America” (Conrad ).

Links:

http://eol.org/pages/604270/overview

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=POPL11

Specimen #6 Pellia

Fig. 1 Pellia next to a quarter.

Fig. 2 Pellia thallus close up.

Name: Pellia

Family: Pelliaceae

Collection Date: Oct. 8, 2011

Habitat: Damp rock

Location: Hiram College Field Station woods, Ohio

Description:Branching thalloid, pale green, translucent, with more than one chloroplast per cell

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

1b. Plant thalloid...4

4b. More than one chloroplast per cell...5

5a. Strongly flattened, thalloid, without distinction between stem and leaf...6

6b. translucent or transparent...7

7b. Thallai ribbon shaped, no pear shaped sacs...pg 238 Metzgeriales

Key to Order Metzgeriales pg. 238

1b. Thallos...2

2b. Deeply lobed without blue green algae...3

3b. midrib ill defined, 1 cell thick at margins...6

6a plant 4-16mm wide...pg 277 Pellia

Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=PELLI&display=63

http://eol.org/pages/38072/entries/28834346/overview

Specimen #5 Grain-of-Wheat Moss

Name: Diphyscium folioso

Family: Buxbaumiaceae

Collection Date: Oct. 8, 2011

Habitat: Damp soil and rocks

Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Ohio

Description: 

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. Bryidae

Key to Subclass Bryidae pg. 28

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

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

7b. No isodiometeric cells...8

8a. leaves small, rarely seen...9

9a. Capsule sessile (without seta), immersed in bristle-tipped perichaetial leaves...pg 222 Diphyscium

Diphyscium foliosum

"Plant small, in rigid, dark green, brown, to blackish extensive tufts, capsules nearly, sesile in forests on soil, humus, shaded banks, cliff, rock walls of ravines and gorges, wide spread in eastern America" (Conrad 222).

Moss Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DIFO3

Specimen #4 Liverwort

Figure 1. Thalloid liverwort growing damp  rock wall.

Figure 2. Close up of thalloid liverwort with clearly visible air pores.

Figure 3. Air pores of thalloid liverwort.

Figure 4. Clear rhizoids of thalloid liverwort.

Name: Conocephalum

Family:  Conocephalaceae

Collection Date: Sept. 26, 2011

Habitat: Damp soil and rocks

Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Ohio

Description:Branching thalloid, dark green to green-yellow with polygon shaped divisions across the upper surface.  One air pore per polygonal section, sitting atop a mound of clear cells.  Rhizoids clear.  Growing vertically on the face of a damp rock wall. 
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

1b. Plant thalloid...4

4b. More than one chloroplast per cell...5

5a. Strongly flattened, thalloid, without distinction between stem and leaf...6

6a. Opaque thallus...pg 239 Marchantiales

Key to Order Marchantiales pg. 239

1a. Air pores visible without a lense...8

8b. Thalli without gammae and without marginal scales on underside...10

10a. Air pore on low mound of colorless cells...pg 283 Conocephalum

"Thalli pale to dark green above, purplish below, 1-2 cm wide, up to 20com long, dichotomously branching, upper surface with distinct polygonal areas, pores distinct, on moist rocks and soil, wide spread in North America" (Conrad 283).

Liverwort Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CONOC3

Specimen #3 Atrichum Moss

Figure 1. Maturing operculate capsule with calyptra. 

Figure 2. Close up of leaf (with costa and lamellae) of Atrichum crispum.

Name: Atrichum crispum Atrichum Moss 

Family:  Polytrichaceae

Collection Date: Oct. 8, 2011

Habitat: Damp soil

Location: Hiram College Field Station woods

Description: Dark green, well defined leaves with costa, spiraling around the stem.  Sporophyte capsule operculate, maturing to a brown-red color.  Found in a large tuft on soil at the base 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. Bryidae

Key to Subclass 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

20a. Lamellae on costa...21

21b. Has lamallae...23

23b. Leaves toothed on margin; not oval....24

24a. Calyptra smooth...25

25b. No cilia on leaf; bordered with long narrow cells...pg 223 Atrichum

Key to Genera Atrichum pg. 223

1b. levaes broad; 0-6 lamallae...2

2a. leaves 1.5m wide or more; not collenchymatous...3

3a. 0-3 lamellae; striate papillae on margins...Atrichum crispum

"Plants small to moderatly robust, in dull yellowish-green tufts on soil in mountains, Ontario to Quebec and Nova Scotia south to Iowa, Tennessee to Florida" (Conrad 224).

Moss Links: 

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

http://plants.findthedata.org/detail/6635/Atrichum-crispum 

Specimen #2 Hornwort

Figure 1. Phaeoceros growing on rock wall.

Figure 2. Phaeoceros  with mature sporophyte.

Name: Phaeoceros
Family: Notothyladaceae

Collection Date: Sept. , 2011

Habitat: Terrestrial; growing on rocks and soil; damp areas

Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Ohio

Description: Lobed, thalloid, slick/slimy, dark green appearance with hornlike sporophytes growing directly from the thallus.
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

1b. Plants thalloid...4

4a. Thalloid with one chloroplast per cell...pg 230 Anthocerotae

Key to Family Anthocerotae pg. 230

1a. capsule erect, 1-3cm long, becoming black after splitting...2

2? spores yellow...Phaeoceros

"Thallus dark green, .5-3cm in diameter, deeply lobed, on moist soil and rocks, widespread in North America" (Conrad 231). 

Phaeoceros Links:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PHLA24

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