Specimen #3 Schistidium apocarpum, Moss

Figure 1: Schistidium apocarpum dried up. Colors are very
dark green and rusty brown.

Figure 2: Schistidium apocarpum when wet the sprout and have
a more lime green color to them

Figure 3: Shows the midrib in the center of the
leaf. Very visible.

Figure 4: If you look closely you are able to see
the tooth-like structures on the outside of the
leaf. Big identifier as what type of moss it is.

Name: Schistidium

Common Name: Prickly Cannikin Moss 

Family: Grimmiaceae 

Collected Date: 9/8/16

Habitat: Dry rocks, often found in areas with canopy cover. 

Location: Nelsons Ledges 

Description: Grows in patches over rocks mainly. When dry it has a dark brown and green color to it. When wet the leaves are lime green with translucent tips. 

Key Used: Karl B Mcknight, Joseph R Rohrer, Kirsten Mcknight Ward, and Warren J. Perdrizet. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. 

Keying Steps:

Step 1: Noticed plant was dark green/rusty brown. Shoots were loosely associated and densely packed. Leaves not packed and there is a midrib visible. 

Step 2: Plant found on soil, rocks, or logs in dry areas.

Step 3: Leaf surface rippled or wavy when wet

Step 4: leaf midrib conspicuous to leaf tip

Step 5: Midrib fills greater than 1/4 width of upper leaf

Step 6: Outer leaves have sharp like teeth that are transparent

There are lots of different samples that matched but what really gave me the idea of it being Schistidium apocarpum was the tooth-like structures on the leafs. These tooth-like structures are transparent and are found on each leaf. They also have midribs.