Plagiomnium

Scientific name

Plagiomnium T.J. Kop.

Common names

pearl moss

Family

Mniaceae

Similar genera

Fontinalis and Vesicularia, Taxiphyllum

Native distribution

circum-polar and temperatetemperate:
(adj) of the climatic zone between boreal and tropical
regions

Species cultivated

(two species plus cultivated hybrids and varieties)

Plagiomnium affine (Blandow ex Funck) T.J. Kop.

P. trichomanes (Mitt.) T.J. Kop.

Adventive distribution

it is unclear if species are native or introduced into Africa and South America

Weed status

information not available

Habit

attached hygrophytic moss

Brief description

Non-spore-producing generation (gametophyte) is dominant, forming a mat of yellow-green to dark green stems. Fertilefertile:
(adj) producing viable seed, spores, or pollen; capable of reproducing
stems ± erect, occasionally tree-like; sterilesterile:
(adj) lacking male and/or female reproductive parts; not producing fruit, seed, pollen, spores, etc.
stoloniferous stems spreading to deflexeddeflexed:
(adj) bent abruptly downward
; rhizoids present. Leaves spreading, contorted when dry; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
obovate, oblong-obovate or elliptic; apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
cuspidate to apiculateapiculate:
(adj) having a small broad point at the apex
; base typically decurrentdecurrent:
(adj) extending downward, beyond the point of insertion
, or truncatetruncate:
(adj) terminating abruptly, as if cut straight across
; margins toothed; costacosta:
(n) midvein of leaf or pinna or rachis of pinnately compound leaf
percurrent to excurrentexcurrent:
(adj) extending beyond the end of a leaf or pinna
. Spore-producing generation (sporophyte) emersedemersed:
see emergent
. Dispersal by spores and stem fragments.

Natural habitat

damp shaded areas, often near streams or in swamps; on soil, calcareous rock, humus, or rotten wood

Additional comments

A genus comprising about 35 species, none of which are true aquatics. Plagiomnium affine and P. trichomanes tolerate short periods submersedsubmersed:
see submerged
, but will eventually die if not allowed to grow emersedemersed:
see emergent
.