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  • Polytrichum Commune Var. Commune

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    This document summarizes the identification and habitat of Polytrichum commune var. commune, a species of moss: 1) P. commune forms large hummocks or turfs of tough, wiry shoots up to 40 cm long that have narrowly spearhead-shaped leaves when moist. 2) It produces a 4-angled, box-like capsule on a long reddish seta in summer. 3) P. commune can be found in a wide range of damp, acidic habitats throughout western Britain, often abundantly on wet moors in uplands but also in wet woodlands, bogs, and ditches.

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    Polytrichum-commune-var.-commune

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    This document summarizes the identification and habitat of Polytrichum commune var. commune, a species of moss: 1) P. commune forms large hummocks or turfs of tough, wiry shoots up to 40 cm long that have narrowly spearhead-shaped leaves when moist. 2) It produces a 4-angled, box-like capsule on a long reddish seta in summer. 3) P. commune can be found in a wide range of damp, acidic habitats throughout western Britain, often abundantly on wet moors in uplands but also in wet woodlands, bogs, and ditches.

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    8 views1 page

    Polytrichum Commune Var. Commune

    Uploaded by

    Tanasa Gabriela
    This document summarizes the identification and habitat of Polytrichum commune var. commune, a species of moss: 1) P. commune forms large hummocks or turfs of tough, wiry shoots up to 40 cm long that have narrowly spearhead-shaped leaves when moist. 2) It produces a 4-angled, box-like capsule on a long reddish seta in summer. 3) P. commune can be found in a wide range of damp, acidic habitats throughout western Britain, often abundantly on wet moors in uplands but also in wet woodlands, bogs, and ditches.

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    Polytrichales

    Polytrichum commune var. commune


    P. uliginosum
    Common Haircap Key 95

    4-angled, box-like capsule

    2 cm

    Constriction

    4 cm 2 cm 5 mm

    Identification Well-grown, large, hummocks or turfs of this species are unmistakable. They consist of
    tough, wiry shoots up to 40 cm long (usually about 20 cm). When moist, the 8–12 mm
    long, narrowly spearhead-shaped leaves spread or strongly curve away from the stem,
    with a glossy sheathing base, giving a starry appearance viewed from above. When dry,
    the margins become inrolled, wavy and gently twist around the stems. The margins
    are sharply toothed and the broad nerve is covered with up to 70 ridges of tissue.
    The leaves surrounding the base of the seta are longly tapering and toothed above.
    The 4-angled, box-like capsule, produced in summer, is borne on a long (to 12 cm),
    reddish seta. It is erect when young, becoming inclined to horizontal with age; its lid is
    shortly beaked. The young capsule is covered by a long, golden brown, hairy calyptra.
    Similar species It can be distinguished from the usually shorter var. perigoniale (p. 323) and var.
    humile (Smith, p. 129), both plants of drier ground, by its more strongly toothed, evenly
    tapering leaves surrounding the base of the seta. Polytrichastrum formosum (p. 320)
    is also a shorter plant of drier, usually more shaded habitats; its sheathing leaf base is
    less glossy and the leaves are a little broader. The 5- to 6-angled capsule with a longer
    beak and a base that is not separated from the capsule by a constriction, borne on
    a shorter seta distinguishes P. formosum, but often (especially with plants from wet
    heaths) microscopical examination of a leaf section is necessary. However, the back of
    a moist, fully developed leaf of P. formosum may have a V-shaped ridge formed by the
    back of the nerve, whereas the back of a P. commune leaf is rounded.
    Habitat Found in a wide range of damp, acidic habitats, tolerating shade and moderate
    amounts of pollution and nutrient enrichment. It often abounds on wet moors in the
    uplands, but is also frequent throughout western, lowland Britain in wet woodlands,
    bogs, ditches, by lake margins, on heaths, etc. In the drier south-east it is perhaps
    most frequent in old gravel pits and sand pits by pools under willow and birch scrub.
    322 Photos Sean Edwards (left), Des Callaghan (top right), Gordon Rothero (bottom centre) &
    David Genney (bottom right) Text Fred Rumsey

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