No images found for this plant ID: 14568.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "14568" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
didymodon moss
Scientific Name: Didymodon
Family: Pottiaceae
Category: Moss
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Didymodon Mosses: A Diverse Genus
Didymodon is a genus of mosses belonging to the Pottiaceae family. These mosses are found in a variety of habitats around the world.
Considerations for Pets
- Some Didymodon species grow in tufts or patches, which could be tempting for pets to nibble.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Didymodon Hedw.
- Family: Pottiaceae
- Synonyms: Some species were formerly classified under the genus Barbula (e.g., Barbula fallax, Barbula nicholsonii, Barbula nigrescens).
- Various species and subspecies exist within the Didymodon genus, including:
- Didymodon acutus
- Didymodon asperifolius
- Didymodon australasiae
- Didymodon baii
- Didymodon brachyphyllus and its variety Didymodon brachyphyllus var. brachyphyllus
- Didymodon canoae
- Didymodon cordatus
- Didymodon eckeliae
- Didymodon fallax and its variety Didymodon fallax var. fallax, as well as the form Didymodon fallax var. reflexus
- Didymodon ferrugineus
- Didymodon hegewaldiorum
- Didymodon mamillosus
- Didymodon maschalogenus
- Didymodon michiganensis
- Didymodon nicholsonii
- Didymodon nigrescens
- Didymodon norrisii
- Didymodon reedii
- Didymodon rigidulus and its variety Didymodon rigidulus var. icmadophilus
- Didymodon sinuosus
- Didymodon tomaculosus
- Didymodon tophaceus
- Didymodon vinealis and its variety Didymodon vinealis var. brachyphyllus
Common Names
- Didymodon Moss (general)
- False Beard-moss
- Nicholson's Beard-moss
- Perthshire beardmoss (Didymodon mamillosus)
- Rigid didymodon moss (Didymodon rigidulus var. icmadophilus)
- Soft-tufted Beard-moss (Didymodon vinealis)
- Black Didymodon Moss (Didymodon nigrescens)
Distribution and Habitat
- Didymodon species are found worldwide.
- Specific locations mentioned include:
- Europe
- Austrian Alps
- Southern Norway
- Turkey
- British Isles (Didymodon reedii)
- Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China (Didymodon baii)
- Tibet, China
- Northwest Territories and Labrador in Canada
- Chihuahua in Mexico
- Japan
- Assam
- Bhutan
- United States
- California (Didymodon norrisii)
- Borrego Palm Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, California
- Antarctica
- Australia: Victoria
- Chile
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Mexico: Baja
- Oregon: Juniper Canyon
- Terricolous (ground-dwelling) species are common.
Morphological Characteristics
- Acrocarpous mosses (having erect, terminal fruiting bodies).
- Leaves are lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate with entire (smooth) margins.
- Shoots can range in size:
- Typical shoots of some species are 0.5 to 3 cm tall.
- Leaves can be 3 to 4 mm in length.
- Some species grow in patches or tufts less than 1 cm tall.
- Coloration varies:
- Olive-green, often brownish on the lower part.
- Deep green, sometimes yellowish.
Quirky Facts
- Didymodon maschalogenus was only recognized as a distinct species in 1981.
- Some Didymodon species are very similar to each other, making identification challenging.
- The leaves of Didymodon sinuosus are missing leaf tips.
Further Information
- Flora of North America
- GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
- USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
- CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants