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Hypnum

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Genus of mosses

Hypnum
Hypnum cupressiforme
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Subclass: Bryidae
Order: Hypnales
Family: Hypnaceae
Genus: Hypnum
Hedw.

Hypnum is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Hypnaceae.

The genus has cosmopolitan distribution. A common name sometimes used for Hypnum moss is "carpet moss".

Distribution

Hypnum species are found on all continents except for Antarctica. Species are typically found in temperate regions.

Habitat

Hypnum species are typically found in moist forest areas on rotting logs, while some species are aquatic. Species can also be found living on soil, rocks, and live trees.

Identification

Identifying moss species in the field to the genus Hypnum by using a hand lens is considered quite feasible since most Hypnum species share common features with one another. A very useful defining characteristic of Hypnum mosses are their leaves which are often falcate-secund (meaning that they are sickle-shaped and point to one side of the plant). Another distinguishing characteristic of Hypnum mosses is the thick, green mats that they form, which earns them the common name "carpet moss". Distinguishing between different Hypnum species can be accomplished mainly by gametophytic features and sometimes by sporophytic features.

Description

Gametophyte characteristics

General form

Gametophytes range from small to large in size. Gametophytes are green, yellowish, or brown in colour, with the colouration appearing dull or glossy. Gametophytes can sometimes form tufts. Growth forms of Hypnum mosses vary from creeping to erect.

Stem and branching patterns

Stems have pseudoparaphyllia. Branching patterns include nearly unbranched, irregularly branched, or 1- or 2- times pinnate.

Leaves

Branch leaves and stem leaves have similar shapes. Leaves are secund or falcate-secund, broadly to narrowly ovate, and can be plicate. Leaf bases can sometimes be decurrent. Sometimes leaf margins are toothed on the distal region. Leaf margins can be recurved proximally and are usually flat (i.e., not recurved) at the distal edge. Leaf margins can sometimes be sinuate at the proximal region. Leaf apices are either acute or acuminate.

Despite having similar shapes, branch leaves are smaller than stem leaves.

Leaves have a double costa or an obscure costa that spans 1/4 of the leaf's length. Laminal cells are exclusively smooth. Alar cells in the leaf bases are typically differentiated and range in shape from hexagonal, triangular, quadrate, or sub-quadrate.

The outer perichaetial leaves are bent while the inner perichaetial leaves are erect. In terms of shape, perichaetial leaves can be ovate, lanceolate, or subulate. Apices of perichaetial leaves are acuminate.

Calyptra

Calyptra are exclusively naked and have no hair.

Sporophyte characteristics

Seta

Setae are long and range in colour from yellowish to reddish.

Sporangium

Orientation of the sporangium can be erect, inclined, or horizontal. Sporangium shape varies from cylindrical to ovoid. The sporangium is also typically curved. There tends to be a contraction below the sporangium opening. All species have two rows of peristome teeth. The outer surface of exostome teeth have zigzag lines as well as lamellae. The annulus is either 1-3- times seriate or has very minimal amounts of cell differentiation. The operculum is conical to round in shape.

Spores produced by the sporangium are round and can be smooth or papillose in texture.

Reproduction

In terms of sexual reproduction, Hypnum mosses are autoicous, dioicous, or phyllodioicous. Hypnum mosses do not have any specialized forms of asexual reproduction.

Human use

Historically, Hypnum mosses were used to stuff bedding because they were falsely believed to have sleep-inducing properties.

Hypnum curvifolium, commonly known as "sheet moss", is used by some florists.

The CityTree air filter, present in many European cities, uses Hypnum to capture and consume pollutants.

Species

The number of species in the genus is unresolved. Depending on the source, the number of species ranges from around 50 to 220, or (according to GBIF) up to 773.

Some of the species in the genus are:

Former species

References

  1. ^ "Hypnum Hedw". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  2. ^ "carpet moss | Description & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  3. ^ "Hypnum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  4. ^ "Hypnum moss (Hypnum cuppressiforme) – life4oakforests.eu". Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  5. ^ Allaby, Michael (2013-04-18), "Hypnum", A Dictionary of Plant Sciences, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780199600571.001.0001/acref-9780199600571-e-3413, ISBN 978-0-19-960057-1, retrieved 2022-04-07
  6. "sheet moss | Description & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  7. O'Donoghue, J. J.; O'Byrne, Ellie (2021-08-11). "Everything you wanted to know about Cork's new Robo-trees but were afraid to ask". Tripe + Drisheen. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  8. "Hypnum Hedw". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Hypnum Hedw". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  10. "Hypnum Hedw". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  11. ^ Cao, Wei; Xiong, Yuanxin; Zhao, Degang; Tan, Hongying; Qu, Jiaojiao (January 2020). "Bryophytes and the symbiotic microorganisms, the pioneers of vegetation restoration in karst rocky desertification areas in southwestern China". Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 104 (2): 873–891. doi:10.1007/s00253-019-10235-0. PMC 6943408.
  12. "Hypnum leptothallum (Müll.Hal.) Paris". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
Taxon identifiers
Hypnum
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