Appearance
''Tortula muralis'' forms greyish-green cushions no more than 1 cm tall, with tongue-shaped leaves possessing acute to rounded leaf apices that approach a point. The leaf margins are narrowly recurved near their apex, and are distally bordered with two to four thicker rows of cells that bear or lack papillae.The costa are long, sometimes excurrent, and lack an adaxial pad of cells. They are narrow distally, with hexagonal distal laminal cells measuring 10-15 µm wide. These cells bear many papillae. The moss is autoicous, and its sporophytes are exerted. Its seta measure 0.6–1.5 cm. Its erect and cylindrical capsules are stegocarpic, not systylius. Its urn measures 1.5-2.7 mm and its peristome 300 µm. Its spherical spores are either very finely papillose or border on smooth, measuring 8-12 µm.
The moss can be distinguished from similar mosses by its erect and cylindrical capsule and its "hair-pointed" leaves. Neighboring ''Barbula'' species are distinguished primarily by its lack of hair-pointed leaves and ''Grimmia'' species, which possess the hair-apices, have short and ovoid capsules. Other ''Tortula'' species are similar morphologically to ''T. muralis'', but none are as abundant as the species. Microscopically, ''T. moralis'' differs from other ''Tortula'' species in its recurved leaf margins and smooth hair-apex.
Distribution
''T. muralis'' can be found in urban areas at low to moderate elevations, with substrates commonly including concrete, cement and brick walls, though it can also be found on a rock and on a tree bark. Distribution of ''T. muralis'' is said to be cosmopolitan, meaning that it is widely distributed across the globe and can be found in a variety of conditions. It is found in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Atlantic islands, New Zealand, and Australia.
Status
''T. muralis'' is recognized as a G5 status indicating that the species is "globally secure, abundant, and demonstrably widespread".Behavior
Just as in all other Bryophytes, ''T. muralis'' undergoes an alternation of heteromorphic generations, meaning that it alternates between two generations: Gametophyte and Sporophyte.Habitat
''T. muralis'' can be found in urban areas at low to moderate elevations, with substrates commonly including concrete, cement and brick walls, though it can also be found on a rock and on a tree bark. Distribution of ''T. muralis'' is said to be cosmopolitan, meaning that it is widely distributed across the globe and can be found in a variety of conditions. It is found in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Atlantic islands, New Zealand, and Australia.References:
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