SafePlants

Splachnum rubrum: Brilliant Red Dung Moss

Splachnum rubrum, commonly known as Brilliant Red Dung Moss, is a fascinating member of the moss family. This plant exhibits unique adaptations that set it apart.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that the sporophytes are often red or black.
• This moss has an odor that attracts flies.

Considerations for Children

• The text mentions that the sporophytes are often red or black.
• This moss has an odor that attracts flies.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Splachnum rubrum Hedw.
• Common Names: Brilliant Red Dung Moss, Umbrella Moss, Petticoat Moss, Pinkstink Dung Moss.
• Family: Splachnaceae
• Kingdom: (Not explicitly mentioned, but implied as plantae.)

Distribution and Habitat

• Found in various locations including Alaska (Anchorage Borough), British Columbia, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and Sweden (Bollns, Hlsingland).
• Adapted to grow primarily on dung.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Nonvascular growth habit.
• Sporophytes are generally colored red or black.
• The moss has a flower-like appearance.

Quirky Facts

• Splachnum rubrum attracts flies via a carrion-like odor.
• Some cultures use cow dung in the process of dying materials due to it's alkaline qualities.
• One particular coffee includes beans that have been eaten and digested by elephants, eventually resulting in the excrement of coffee beans.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The sporophytes produce an odor of carrion attractive to flies, which aids in spore dispersal.

Further Information

• Species recognized by IRMNG (Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera).
• Information extracted from "Some Common Mosses of BC" by Wilf Schofield.
• Further information available on Garden Guides regarding Splachnum Dung Moss (Vasculosum) and gardening.