Common Candle Snuffer Moss (Encalypta vulgaris)
Description
Shoots form loose tufts or cushions less than 1.5 cm tall. Leaves are about 3 mm long. Identifying this frequent, lowland calcicole without capsules is very unsafe; fortunately, they are usually present. Young capsules persist for a considerable time, so are often found. Ripe capsules are smooth, have a rudimentary or absent peristome, and until maturity are entirely covered by a very large, unfringed calyptra. Capsules arise from between rosettes of broad, more or less parallel-sided, opaque, very matt leaves, abruptly narrowed to the tip. The nerve ends below the tip or is shortly excurrent.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Bryophyta
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Class: Bryopsida
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Order: Pottiales
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Family: Encalyptaceae
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Genus: Encalypta
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