Zygodon Moss (Zygodon conoideus)
Description
These four species - of which Z. viridissimus is the commonest - are difficult to reliably distinguish from each other without checking under a microscope. They all form small (usually up to 1 cm tall), light green tufts and patches. The shortly pointed leaves are held at a wide angle from the stem when moist, giving the plants a characteristically neat appearance. Dry leaves become lightly twisted and appressed to the stem, considerably altering the appearance of shoots. Leaves are typically 1.5- 2 mm long, nerved, widest near the middle, and narrow rather abruptly at the tip. Gemmae are normally produced amongst the leaf axils, but only become discernible under a microscope. Capsules are infrequent, except in Z. conoideus. They are pale yellowish-brown, egg-shaped, borne on a seta 6-10 mm long, and produced in spring and summer.
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: Orthotrichales
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Family: Orthotrichaceae
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Genus: Zygodon
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