Funaria hygrometrica
Funaria microstoma
bonfire moss, common cord-moss, funaria moss
funaria moss
smaller proximally, distal leaves 2–4 mm, deeply concave, oblong-ovate to broadly obovate distally, acute to apiculate or short-acuminate, entire or weakly serrulate distally;
costa subpercurrent to short-excurrent;
distal laminal cells thin-walled and inflated, hexagonal or oblong-hexagonal becoming much more oblong proximally.
2–3 mm proximally on the stem, distal leaves 4–5 mm, somewhat crowded distally, oblong-lanceolate to oblanceolate, narrowly acuminate, entire;
costa ending in the slender apex;
distal laminal cells thin-walled, oblong-hexagonal to rhombic-hexagonal, becoming longer proximally.
usually (12–)20–45(–80) mm, slender and flexuose, usually hygroscopic.
usually 20–25 mm, slender, hygroscopic, becoming twisted when dry.
2–3.5 mm, pyriform, asymmetric, curved to straight, horizontal to pendent or merely inclined or nearly erect, becoming sulcate when dry below the strongly oblique mouth;
annulus revoluble, operculum slightly convex;
peristome brown, papillose-striate proximally and papillose distally, strongly trabeculate, becoming appendiculate distally, forming a lattice by fusion of the tips;
endostome segments lanceolate about 2/3 as long as the teeth, yellowish, finely papillose-striate.
1.5–2.5 mm, obovoid, strongly asymmetrical and curved, inclined to horizontal, becoming sulcate when dry;
annulus revoluble;
operculum low-conic, small, about 0.5 mm or less than half the diameter of the mature, undehisced capsule;
peristome teeth brownish basally, slender, appendiculate in the distal hyaline portion;
endostome a low, irregular membrane partially adherent to the teeth.
cucullate, smooth.
cucullate, rostrate, smooth.
mostly 12–21 µm, finely papillose.
22–27 µm, papillose to finely bacculate-insulate.
Funaria hygrometrica
Funaria microstoma
Varieties ca. 20 (2 in the flora).
Funaria hygrometrica is one of the most common, weedy, and widely distributed mosses in the world; its distribution closely parallels that of Bryum argenteum. It is widely illustrated in textbooks to demonstrate the life cycle of a typical moss, possibly because of the abundant conspicuous sporophytes produced and its frequent presence in greenhouses. However, the peristome with opposite, instead of alternate, teeth in the two peristome rows is clearly atypical among the majority of mosses. Most of the varieties that have been described probably do not merit recognition because of the morphological plasticity of the species in response to environmental conditions.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Funaria microstoma has not often been recognized by North American collectors. It may be overlooked because it is found in habitats where the similar F. hygrometrica might be expected. It can be distinguished in the field with a hand lens by the small capsule mouth and the narrow leaves near the stem tip.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Capsule 2-3.5 mm, horizontal to pendent, curved, capsule neck less tapered, mouth of capsule narrow | var. hygrometrica |
1. Capsule 2-3 mm, inclined to nearly erect, straight or weakly curved, capsule narrowly tapered to a long slender neck, mouth of capsule wide. | var. calvescens |
BC
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
IL Wildflowers
