Andreaea rothii explained

Andreaea rothii, or Roth's andreaea moss,[1] is a species of moss in the family Andreaeaceae native to North America and parts of Europe.[2] This plant was described in 1807 by Weber and Mohr.

Description

Andreaea rothii gametophytes sometimes form extensive black to brown cushion-like patches,[3] with individual shoots erect and less than 2 cm tall. The leaves of Andreaea rothii are 1-2 cm wide, and have a strong costa,[4] which is roughly synonymous to a midrib. The leaves can be falcate-secund, curving to one side of the plant. This is especially true when wet, however the plants do not alter much when dry. The outline of the leaf is pear-shaped, swelling at the base and tapering to a tip, and can also be strongly curved depending on subspecies.

Distribution

Andreaea rothii grows on rocks that are wet, acidic, and exposed. This species is found anywhere from areas of high elevation to sea-level.

Reproduction

Andreae rothii gametophytes can be gonioautoicous - meaning the antheridia are bud-like in the axil of an archegonial branch - or cladautoicous - meaning the antheridia and archegonia are found on different branches of the same plant. Like all of the Andreaeaceae, sporangia are elevated on a pseudopodium,[5] a structure resembling a seta but composed of gametophyte tissue rather than sporophyte tissue. The sporangia will dehisce longitudinally, forming slits through which spores are dispersed.[6] This pattern of dehiscence gives the genus its common name: "Lantern mosses".

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Plants Profile for Andreaea rothii (Roth's andreaea moss). plants.usda.gov. 2020-03-16.
  2. Web site: Roth's andreaea moss maps - Encyclopedia of Life. eol.org. 2020-03-16.
  3. Book: Rothero, Gordon. Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland: A Field Guide. British Bryological Society. 2010. 978-0-9561310-1-0. Atherton. Ian. United Kingdom. 314. Andreaea rothii subsp. falcata / subsp. rothii. Bosanquet. Sam. Lawley. Mark.
  4. Web site: Andreaea rothii in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. www.efloras.org. 2020-04-25.
  5. Web site: California Moss eFlora key to Andreaea. ucjeps.berkeley.edu. 2020-03-16.
  6. Web site: Andreaeaceae. eFlora of North America. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20071101051805/http://www.efloras.org:80/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10040 . 2007-11-01 .