Specimen #7: Wavy Starburst Moss

Atrichum altercristatum 

Figure 1. Atrichum altercristatum. Notice the size of the leaves, wavy ridges, and obvious midrib.

Figure 2. Atrichm altercristatum star-shape pattern

Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Polytrichaceae
Species: Atrichum altercristatum
Common name: Wavy Starburst moss
Collection date: September 2015
Collector: Willa Scharlu
Habitat: This specimen was found in a lawn area under an oak tree in South Russel Ohio.
Description: This specimen is acrocarpous with a defined midrib. When wet, the spirally arranged leaves spread out spread out to create a star shape pattern when viewing from above, and the individual leaves are become wavy.
Key used: McKnight, K. B et al. (2013). Princeton field guides: Common mosses of the northeast and Appalachians. Princeton, NJ; Princeton University Press.

Acrocarps with lance-shaped leaves p. 342
1. Plants darker green, yellow green, or brownish black, shoots loosely associated or if densely packed then not in domed mounds; leaves flat or folded but not tubular, with midrib usually visible at least at base of leaf...
3. Plants on soil, rocks, trees, or logs in dry areas, or if in wetter areas, not submerged in water; leaves not folded at base...
4. leaf surface rippled or wavy when wet...
5. Leaf midrib conspicuous to leaf tip (extra strips of tissue running along their length, visible, as green and white stripes under 20x hand lens)...
6. Midrib fills less than 1/4 width of upper leaf; leaves 0.7-2 mm wide...
7.Plants 1-3 cm tall;  lower stems often matted with rust-colored fuzz...

Atrichum altercristatum

For more information on Atrichum altercristatum please review the following links:
http://www.fnanaturesearch.org/index.php?option=com_naturesearch&task=view&id=1397
https://nhgardensolutions.wordpress.com/tag/wavy-starburst-moss/