SafePlants

Coscinodon cribrosus

Coscinodon cribrosus, also known as Sieve-tooth Moss or Coscinodon Moss, is a moss species belonging to the Grimmiaceae family.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Coscinodon cribrosus (Hedw.) Spruce
• Family: Grimmiaceae
• Synonyms: Grimmia cribrosa Hedw.

Distribution and Habitat

• This moss is found in widely disjunct sites across North America.
• It's also known from the southern Prince Charles Mountains and is considered a unique continental Antarctic endemic moss species.
• It thrives in lower elevation arid lands and can be found on slate cliffs.

Morphological Characteristics

• Coscinodon cribrosus has long hair points and incurved margins on its leaves.
• Leaf striations are an important feature for identification.

Genetic and Cytological Information

• ta-siRNA families have been identified in mosses, with Coscinodon humilis clone 20-Chu showing significant identity to these families.

Historical Context

• The species was initially classified under the genera Grimmia and Weissia.
• Richard Spruce assigned it to the genus Coscinodon in 1849.

Interactions with other organisms

• The text mentions exuberant growth of sieve tooth-moss Coscinodon cribrosus recorded on an old quarry face.

Further Information

• Tropicos database.
• British Bryological Society Checklist of British and Irish Bryophytes.
• Encyclopedia of Life Family: Grimmiaceae.
• USDA Plants Database.