The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

controverial weissia moss, green-cushion weissia moss, green-tuft stubble-moss, pigtail moss

Leaves

short- to long-lanceolate, base weakly differentiated to ovate, shoulders weak or absent, distal laminal margins strongly and usually but not always sharply incurved or inrolled, apex plane to channeled, acute, mucro usually weak, of 1–5(–8) cells;

costal adaxial stereid band smaller than the abaxial;

distal laminal cells 6–13 µm wide.

long-lanceolate, base broadly elliptical, shoulders absent, distal laminal margins strongly and sharply incurved or inrolled, apex narrowly channeled, acute, mucro strong, of 6–10 cells;

costal adaxial stereid band smaller than the abaxial;

distal laminal cells 8–10 µm wide.

Seta

elongate, 0.3–0.8 cm.

short, 0.015–0.017 cm not including the vaginula.

Sexual condition

monoicous.

cladautoicous.

Capsule

stegocarpic, long-ovate to cylindric, operculum differentiated, falling, peristome present, teeth rudimentary to lanceolate, or occasionally absent.

cleistocarpic, elliptic to ovoid with a long-rostrate apiculus.

Weissia controversa

Weissia phascopsis

Phenology Capsules mature throughout year depending on area of the flora. Capsules mature winter–spring.
Habitat Weedy, soil, rock, disturbed areas, roadsides, fields, acid or calcareous substrates Soil
Elevation moderate elevations
Distribution
from FNA
AK; AL; AZ; CA; CO; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; KS; KY; LA; MA; MI; MT; NC; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; TN; TX; UT; VA; WA; WI; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; NT; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; Mexico; Central America; South America; Africa; Pacific Islands; Greenland; Eurasia; West Indies; Australia
[WildflowerSearch map]
from FNA
AZ; KS; MN; NE; NM; NY; OH; OK; TX; VA; QC; SK; Europe
Discussion

This treatment of Weissia controversa follows the study of A. Stoneburner (1985), which justifiably included W. andrewsii, and, agreeing with H. A. Crum and L. E. Anderson (1981), pointed out the great variation in peristome development including occurrence of both eperistomate and peristomate capsules in the same collection. The present treatment includes all flora area reports of W. condensa, a morphologically distinct European species with characters as listed in Excluded Species. Rhizoidal gemmae were reported by W. D. Reese (1988) but these are apparently rare. Weissia viridula Bridel is an illegitimate name that has been much used for this taxon.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Some capsules of Weissia phascopsis show rudimentary peristomes, of 1–8 teeth, each of 1–2 articulations, which may vary in a tuft, and aborted spores were not seen. The possible hybrid origin of this species has been discussed by A. L. Andrews (1920, 1922, 1924, 1933). C. Williams (1966) found possible natural hybrids in Ontario between W. controversa and W. muhlenbergiana, which differed from W. phascopsis by the large number of abortive spores and rudimentary peristome teeth (16 with 4 articulations). The difference in number of teeth and articulations indicates that W. phascopsis is either not a hybrid or it has backcrossed to W. muhlenbergiana. H. A. Crum and L. E. Anderson (1981) gave a clear summary of the problem. Species previously placed in Astomum are here presented as separate species pending a better analysis of the genetic basis of differences in traits. The gametophyte of W. phascopsis is much the same as that of W. controversa, which supports a theory of hybrid origin of the sporophyte. Further evidence is the occasional rudimentary peristome. The sexuality, however, is cladautoicous. This, and the multiple identical sporophytes per turf, each with no or few aborted spores, argue against outcrossing. There is no evidence for differential timing of maturation and dehiscence of archegonia and antheridia.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 27, p. 514. FNA vol. 27, p. 516.
Parent taxa Pottiaceae > subfam. Trichostomoideae > Weissia Pottiaceae > subfam. Trichostomoideae > Weissia
Sibling taxa
W. brachycarpa, W. inoperculata, W. jamaicensis, W. ligulifolia, W. ludoviciana, W. muhlenbergiana, W. occidentalis, W. phascopsis, W. sharpii
W. brachycarpa, W. controversa, W. inoperculata, W. jamaicensis, W. ligulifolia, W. ludoviciana, W. muhlenbergiana, W. occidentalis, W. sharpii
Synonyms Gymnostomum rauanum, Mollia viridula, W. andrewsii, W. brandegeei, W. controversa var. australis, W. controversa var. longiseta, W. controversa var. wolffii, W. curvicaulis, W. longiseta, W. microodonta, W. viridula var. nitida, W. wolfii Gymnostomum phascoides, Astomum phascoides, Hymenostomum rostellatum var. phascoides, W. rostellata var. phascoides
Name authority Hedwig: Sp. Musc. Frond., 67. (1801) R. H. Zander: Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 11: 196. (1985)
Web links