Wrinkled Arch Star Moss

Appearance

The wrinkled arc star moss forms voluminous, deep green carpets made up of fertile stems branching tree-like at the apex and covered with rhizome felt. In addition, there are several sterile stems that are unbranched and overhanging.

The blades are tongue-shaped and 10-15 mm long and 1-2 mm wide. The leaf margin consists of a margin of prosenchymal (narrow and elongated) cells, while the cells of the leaf blade are parenchymatic (rounded to hexagonal). The leaf margin is serrated. The leaf vein extends into the leaf tip or emerges as a short spine tip.

Wrinkled arc star moss is dioecious. The sporangium (capsule) is cylindrical and is yellow-green to brown. The lid is semi-spherical with short tips. The seta, which is curved at the top, is 2-4 cm long and has a yellow-red color.

Distribution

Widespread in temperate areas of the world.

Habitat

The wrinkled arc star moss is a characteristic of the class of oak and beech forests on nutrient-rich soil.