SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 14432.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "14432" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

didymodon moss

Scientific Name: Didymodon asperifolius

Family: Pottiaceae

Category: Moss

Growth: Nonvascular

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Didymodon Moss: A Detailed Overview

Didymodon is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Pottiaceae, encompassing various species with diverse characteristics and distributions. This article provides an overview of Didymodon mosses, covering their taxonomy, distribution, morphology, and more.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Didymodon Hedw.
  • Common Names: didymodon moss, beard-moss (e.g., Nicholson's Beard-moss, Perthshire beardmoss, Soft-tufted Beard-moss)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
  • Family: Pottiaceae
  • Order: Pottiales
  • Synonyms: Several species were formerly classified under the genus Barbula (e.g., Didymodon fallax was also known as Barbula fallax, Didymodon nicholsonii as Barbula nicholsonii, and Didymodon nigrescens as Barbula nigrescens).

Distribution and Habitat

Didymodon mosses have a wide distribution, occurring in various regions worldwide:

  • Europe: Including the Austrian Alps, southern Norway, and Turkey.
  • North America: Including California (Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Juniper Canyon, Oregon), Mexico (Chihuahua and Baja).
  • Asia: Including Tibet, China, Assam, Bhutan, Inner Mongolia (China).
  • Other Regions: Northwest Territories and Labrador (Canada), Japan, Peru, Antarctica, Australia (Victoria), Chile, Greenland, Iceland.

They are typically ground-dwelling (terricolous) species.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Typical shoots range from 0.5 to 3 cm tall.
  • Color: Olive-green, often brownish on the lower part, or deep green and sometimes yellowish.
  • Leaves: Lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate with entire margins; narrow upper leaves average 3 to 4 mm in length.
  • Growth Habit: Grow in flat or short patches or tufts, usually less than 1 cm (but sometimes about 2 cm).

Ecological Role

  • Specific ecological roles are not described but the text alludes to some species being rare, indicating specific habitat requirements.

Further Information

  • Flora of North America
  • GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
  • CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (California Native Plant Society)