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crossidium moss

Scientific Name: Crossidium aberrans

Family: Pottiaceae

Category: Moss

Growth: Nonvascular

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Crossidium Moss

This page provides information about mosses in the genus Crossidium, including Crossidium squamiferum, Crossidium crassinerve, Crossidium aberrans, Crossidium seriatum, Crossidium rosei, and Crossidium spiralifolium.

Considerations for Pets

  • Crossidium mosses often form dense tufts.
  • They sometimes grow in cracks in rocks.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Crossidium spp. (with multiple species mentioned, including Crossidium squamiferum, Crossidium crassinerve, Crossidium aberrans, Crossidium seriatum, Crossidium rosei, and Crossidium spiralifolium.)
  • Common Name: Crossidium Moss
  • Family: Pottiaceae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Bryophyta
  • Class: Bryopsida
  • Order: Pottiales
  • Genus: Crossidium
Synonyms and Alternative Names:
  • Barbula squamifera Viv. (for Crossidium squamiferum)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Crossidium is common on thin soil over boulders.
  • Specific locations mentioned include:
    • Mojave Desert of Nevada (USA) (for Crossidium crassinerve)
    • South Africa, Western Cape Province (for Crossidium spiralifolium)
    • Dagestan
  • Distribution includes USA and Canada.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Extremely small herbaceous moss, forming dense, hoary tufts.
  • Rarely sexually reproductive.
  • Some species share growth of filaments on the leaves.
  • Crossidium crassinervium var. crassinervium is a small moss occurring mostly as scattered stems in sandy arid areas.
  • The awns of Crossidium crassinervium var. crassinervium are frequently as long as the leaves.
  • Leaves may have broadly inrolled margins (mostly obscuring filaments).

Ecological Role

  • Some species exhibit desiccation tolerance.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Often grows in an extensive cover of lichens.

Quirky Facts

  • The common name "crossidium moss" is used to refer to many species of the genus Crossidium.