SafePlants

Bruchia Mosses: A Closer Look

The genus Bruchia encompasses a group of small mosses found in various regions worldwide. This article provides an overview of several Bruchia species, including Bruchia bolanderi and Bruchia vogesiaca, highlighting their characteristics, distribution, and ecological significance.

Considerations for Pets

• Some species, like Bruchia flexuosa, are very small, reaching only a few millimeters in height. This small size might make them easily overlooked or accidentally ingested by pets.

Scientific and Common Names

• Scientific Name: Bruchia (Genus)
• Bruchia bolanderi (species)
• Bruchia vogesiaca (species)
• Common Names: Bolander's candlemoss, Bolander's pygmymoss, bruchia moss, Earth Moss, Bending Bruch's moss, Vosges Candle-moss

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Bryophyta
• Class: Bryopsida
• Order: Dicranales
• Family: Bruchiaceae
• Genus: Bruchia Schwaegr.
• Synonyms: Bruchia vogesiaca Nestl. ex Schwaegr., Sp. Musc. Frond., Suppl. 2(1): 91. 1824.
• Related ITIS Name: Bruchia fusca Britt. (TSN 16832)

Distribution and Habitat

• Bruchia bolanderi is native to California.
• Bruchia vogesiaca is found in the Northern Hemisphere, including western Europe, North America, and China. It has also been recorded in France and Britain (specifically Bodmin Moor, East Cornwall).
• Bruchia flexuosa can be found on clay or base soil in fields, under old willows, and along brooks.
• Bruchia beyrichiana is found in Antarctica and the United States.
• Other locations: England, Oregon, Victoria (Australia)

Ecological Role

• Bruchia bolanderi is included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 4.2 (limited distribution).
• Bruchia vogesiaca is a rare summer-annual of damp, disturbed, acidic soil.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Plants are very small, up to 6 mm high, yellowish green to brown, and grow in loose tufts.
• Bruchia flexuosa is a very small ephemeral moss, with plants found up to 3.5 mm high and leaves to 3 mm long.
• Bruchia texana has a capsule that is clearly exserted beyond the perichaetial.

Quirky Facts

• Bruchia bolanderi responds well to disturbance, although the text oddly mentions "...the fire would have to go through."

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Bruchia vogesiaca is listed in Annex 2 of the Habitats Directive.

Further Information

• USDA
• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
• The Plant List
• Index Nominum Genericorum (ING)
• NYBG Virtual Herbarium
• CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants