Polytrichum juniperinum - (image 1 of 4)
Taxonomy
Family: Polytrichaceae
Habitat
Dry soil or rocks of open woods, swamps, pastures, road banks in full sun or partial shade.
Associates
Distribution
Widespread.
Morphology
Tufted, acrocarpous moss with erect stems to 13 cm high. Leaves spreading and more or less recurved when moist, more erect when dry, ending in a reddish, toothed awn but not hair-tipped; the upper surface covered by green lamellae and covered somewhat by infolded leaf margins; leaf margins entire, inflexed above the shoulders and covering the lamellae. Dioicous. Setae 2-6 cm long; capsules horizontal or somewhat erect, to 5 mm long, dark brown and somewhat glaucous; annulus absent.
Notes
Common on sterile soil in areas with a history of fire.
References
Crum, H. 2004. Mosses of the Great Lakes Forest, 4th ed.
The University of Michigan Herbarium. Ann Arbor, MI
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Michael Hough © 2009 |