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silvergreen bryum moss

Scientific Name: Bryum argenteum

Family: Bryaceae

Category: Moss

Growth: Nonvascular

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Silvergreen Bryum Moss (Bryum argenteum)

Silvergreen Bryum Moss, scientifically known as Bryum argenteum, is a fascinating and widespread moss species.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Bryum argenteum Hedw.
  • Common Name: Silvergreen Bryum Moss
  • Family: Bryaceae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Synonyms: Silver Moss
  • Varieties: Bryum argenteum var. lanatum (P. Beauv.) Hampe

Distribution and Habitat

  • Bryum argenteum is one of the most widespread moss species in the world, occurring on every continent.
  • It is commonly found on acidic soils, grasslands, woodland rides, and soil banks.
  • Observed locations include Baltimore, Maryland, and Howard County, Maryland.

Morphological Characteristics

  • It is a tiny moss with a silvery sheen.
  • Plants are small, gregarious or in dense mats or rarely cushions, white, silver-green, olive to pale.

Ecological Role

  • Commonly found on acidic soils, grasslands, woodland rides, soil banks.

Additional Information

  • Bryum moss belongs among spore-bearing plants, whose lifecycle is dominated by the sexual gametophyte stage, over the asexual sporophyte stage.
  • Moss sperm have two tails and can swim quite well.

Further Resources

  • Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Bryum argenteum.
  • Jan Kops et al. - Flora Batava
  • Encyclopedia of Life