Mosses – Division Bryophyta - Plant & Pest Diagnostics

The image is of a patch of moss. These are mat-forming perennial spore-producing plants.

Mosses – Division Bryophyta

Life cycle

Mat-forming, mostly perennial spore-producing plants.

General description

Low-growing plants with very small foliage that form dense clumps in shady, moist places. Clumps rang from dime-sized to several feet across. Some upright growth is possible, but plants usually reach only 0.25 to 1 inch in height. Plants have rootlike rhizoids, which are not true roots but have similar functions. New plants form by vegetative reproduction and by spores released from capsules at the ends of leafless stalks. No true flowers or fruit are produced.

Leaves

Densely and spirally arranged leaves are very small, 1/16 to 1/8 inch long and awl-shaped. They lack petioles.

Stems

Slender, hairlike and highly branching.

Reproduction

Vegetatively and by spores.

It image is of a clump of green moss growing on the soil. — Moss foliage

The image is of moss foliage close up. The leaves are spirally arranged. They are very small and awl-shaped. They lack petioles. — Moss foliage close-up

Th image is of moss leafless stalks that release spores from capsules. — Moss capsules

The image is a close-up of a capsule that will release spores. — Moss capsules

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Plant & Pest Diagnostics