E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Ditrichum flexicaule (Schwaegr.) Hampe
bendy cow-hair moss (ditrichum moss)
Ditrichaceae

Species Account Author: Wilf Schofield
Extracted from Some Common Mosses of British Columbia

Introduction to the Bryophytes of BC

Distribution of Ditrichum flexicaule
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Species Information

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Illustration Source: Some Common Mosses of BC

Species description:
Genus name refers to the peristome teeth that are split into two hair-like divisions. Species name refers to the long flexuose stems noted in the specimen upon which the name was based.

Reproduction:
Sporophytes frequent in summer but the vegetative plants produce brittle apical branches that probably serve in propagation.

Comments:
A closely related species, D. crispatissimum, is consistently without sporophytes, forms tall, silky turfs (to 100 mm tall, and with leaves to 10 mm long) especially on humid, calcareous cliffs and is often considered synonymous. D. crispatis

Distinguishing characteristics:
D. flexicaule is not readily separable from other species of Ditrichum based on non-microscopic features. Plants that bear brittle, stiffly erect apical branches with reduced leaves give the plants an appearance unique to this species. These forms are more frequent in open or disturbed sites. In tundra, the plants form dense tufts that become blackened within the tuft.

Habit:
Forming short turfs of erect, dark green to light green, unbranched shoots that often bear brittle branches near the apex of vegetative plants.

Similar Species:
Most species of Ditrichum, at least in some variants, can be confused with each other, even with microscopic features. See also notes under D. capillaceum.

Habitat / Range

Habitat

On mineral or humic soil of open, often disturbed sites, sometimes in cliff crevices or tundra.

Range

World Distribution

Circumpolar in the Northern Hemisphere. In. North America extending southward in the east to Michigan; in the west to Colorado.

Status Information

Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Native	S4S5	Yellow	Not Listed

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer, the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Ditrichum crispatissimum

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Flora North America treatment for Ditrichaceae
Genetic information (NCBI Taxonomy Database)
International Plant Names Index
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Bryophyte Flora of North America

Additional Range and Status Information Links

NatureServe Explorer
USDA

Additional Photo Sources

Images From CalPhoto
Google Image Search
Flickr Image Search

General References

Google Scholar Search

Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2020. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2024-05-08 10:11:18 PM ]

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