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didymodon moss
Scientific Name: Didymodon fallax var. reflexus
Family: Pottiaceae
Category: Moss
Growth: Nonvascular
Duration:
Other Names:
Didymodon: An Overview of Beard-Mosses
The genus Didymodon, commonly referred to as beard-moss, encompasses a variety of moss species found across the globe. This page provides an overview of several Didymodon species, their characteristics, distribution, and other relevant information.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Kingdom: Plantae (implied)
- Family: Pottiaceae
- Order: Pottiales
- Genus: Didymodon Hedw.
- Synonyms: Barbula (for some species, such as Didymodon fallax which has a synonym of Barbula fallax)
Common Names
- Didymodon Moss
- Beard-Moss (e.g., False Beard-moss, Nicholson's Beard-moss, Soft-tufted Beard-moss, Perthshire beardmoss)
Distribution and Habitat
- Didymodon species are found worldwide, including:
- Europe (including the Austrian Alps, Italy, and southern Norway)
- Asia (including Tibet, China, and Turkey)
- North America (including California, the Northwest Territories and Labrador in Canada, and Chihuahua in Mexico)
- Antarctica
- Australia (Victoria)
- Chile
- Greenland
- Iceland
- They are often terricolous (ground-dwelling).
- Some species have very restricted ranges (e.g., Didymodon mamillosus, endemic to a few sites in Europe).
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Didymodon mosses are acrocarpous, meaning they have an upright growth habit.
- Shoots typically range from 0.5 to 3 cm tall.
- Leaves are lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate with entire (smooth) margins.
- Leaf length varies by species but can average 3 to 4 mm in the upper leaves.
- They often grow in flat or short patches or tufts, usually less than 1 cm but sometimes up to 2 cm.
- Coloration can vary, ranging from deep green to yellowish, olive-green, and brownish on the lower part of the shoots.
Considerations for Pets
- Several species grow in tufts that are less than 1 cm tall, but sometimes up to 2 cm.
Species Examples
- Didymodon sinuosus: Notable for often having missing leaf tips.
- Didymodon fallax: Also known as False Beard-moss.
- Didymodon nicholsonii: Also known as Nicholson's Beard-moss.
- Didymodon mamillosus: Commonly known as Perthshire beardmoss. Endemic to Europe.
- Didymodon vinealis: Also known as Soft-tufted Beard-moss.
- Didymodon nigrescens: Also known as Black Didymodon Moss.
- Didymodon reedii: Also known as Reed's Didymodon Moss.
Ecological Role
- Impacts of environmental heterogeneity on moss diversity and distribution of Didymodon have been studied in Tibet, China.
Further Information
- Flora of North America
- GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
- USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
- CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (for Didymodon norrisii in California)