SafePlants

Entosthodon: An Overview

Entosthodon is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Funariaceae. Several species within this genus are often referred to collectively as "entosthodon moss."

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Entosthodon Schwgr.
• Common Name: Entosthodon moss
• Family: Funariaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms: Funaria (in some contexts)
• Direct Children Species Include
  • Entosthodon attenuatus (Dicks.) Bryhn – Attenuate entosthodon moss
  • Entosthodon rubiginosus (R.S. Williams) Grout
  • Entosthodon fascicularis (Hedw.)
  • Entosthodon hungaricus (Boros) Loeske
  • Entosthodon kochii
  • Entosthodon tucsonii

Distribution and Habitat

• Entosthodon kochii is native to California.
• Certain species, like Entosthodon fascicularis, are found in British Columbia, Canada, and are subject to management plans.
• The genus has a wide distribution in Asia, including Bangladesh, Mainland China, India, Java, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
• Entosthodon hungaricus is noted as a European species.

Morphological Characteristics

• Entosthodon obtusus, also known as Blunt Cord-moss, is a small moss with shoots up to 5 mm tall.
• Its leaves range from 1.5 to 2.5 mm in length.
• It grows in scattered shoots or loose tufts.

Ecological Role

• Several species, such as Banded Cord-moss (Entosthodon fascicularis), are considered species at risk in specific ecosystems (e.g., Garry Oak ecosystems in British Columbia).

Associations with Other Organisms

• Entosthodon, particularly within the Funariales order, shares similarities with members of the Bryaceae family.

Further Information

• The CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants includes Entosthodon kochii.
• Information may be found in the British Bryological Society Checklist of British and Irish Bryophytes.
• Tropicos and the British Database of World Flora and Fauna are potential resources.