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acaulon moss
Scientific Name: Acaulon muticum
Family: Pottiaceae
Category: Moss
Growth: Nonvascular
Duration:
Other Names:
Acaulon muticum: Rounded Pygmy-moss
Acaulon muticum, commonly known as Rounded Pygmy-moss or acaulon moss, is a small moss belonging to the Pottiaceae family.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Acaulon muticum (Brid.) Muell.Hal.
- Family: Pottiaceae
- Rank: Species
- Synonyms:
- Tortula acaulon (a former name for Phascum cuspidatum, the cuspidate earth-moss or toothed phascum moss, now considered a separate species)
- Acaulon rufescens Jaeg. (also sometimes listed as Acaulon muticum var. rufescens)
Morphological Characteristics
- Plants are often brown in appearance.
- Typically 1-2 mm tall.
- Appear to consist of a few concave upper leaves.
- Leaves of Tortula acaulon (cuspidate earth-moss, previously classified as Phascum) are around 3 mm long and form green patches.
Distribution and Habitat
- Acaulon eremicola, a related species, has been described from arid central Australia.
Genetic and Cytological Information
- The sporophyte-gametophyte junction in Acaulon muticum involves the sporophyte foot and the surrounding gametophyte vaginula.
Ecological Role
- Models have been used to study the relative abundance of Acaulon species in different soil and human footprint types within grassland and parkland regions.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Mention of sporophyte-gametophyte junction indicates interaction between generations within the same plant.
Further Information
- USDA PLANTS Database: Mentions a map for Phascum acaulon (http://plants.usda.gov).
- Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) contains information on Acaulon schimperianum and encourages contributions.
- ResearchGate contains research on the sporophyte-gametophyte junction in the moss Acaulon muticum (Pottiaceae).