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Andreaea: The Lantern Moss

Andreaea, commonly known as lantern moss or granite moss, is a fascinating genus of moss with unique characteristics and a basal position within the moss lineage.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Andreaea Hedw.
• Common Names: Lantern moss, granite moss, Black Rock-moss, Icy Rock-moss, Hunt's Rock-moss, Snow Rock-moss
• Family: Andreaeaceae
• Class: Andreaeidae
• Synonyms: Andreaea petrophila Ehrh. (modern name: Andreaea rupestris)

Distribution and Habitat

• Andreaea species are found globally, including in mountainous regions of Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Scandinavian) and in Antarctic regions.
• They often grow abundantly on the surface of rocks.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Plants are typically blackish green to black, or reddish brown to dark brown.
• They form dense tufts, generally up to 2 cm high, although some species can reach 3 cm.
• Andreaea species are unique among mosses because they lack a seta (stalk). The capsules protrude just above the surrounding plant.

Ecological Role

• Species of Andreaea, the "granite-mosses", are often abundant on rocks, even including rare species.

Genetic Information

• Spore size and morphology are very important characteristics within the genus Andreaea.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• UV-B radiation can influence the pigmentation of some species of Andreaea

Quirky Facts

• Andreaea mosses are the only mosses that have no seta (stalk). Their capsules protrude directly from the plant.
• Recent work has shown that spore size and morphology are very important in identifying different species of Andreaea.

Further Information

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
• Tropicos database
• ABMI (Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute)