Specimen #11: Crispy Tuft Moss

Ulota crispa

Figure 1. leaf of Ulota crispa

Figure 2. Leaf tip of Ulota crispa with midrib

Figure 3. Capsule of Ulota crispa

Figure 4: Ulota crispa  with reddish stems

Figure 5. Ulota crispa tuft

Figure 6. Ulota crispa when wet

Figure 7. Ulota crispa capsules

Phylum: Bryophyta

Family: Orthotrichaceae

Species: Ulota crispa

Common name: Crispy Tuft Moss

Collection date: 10/29/2015

Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey

Habitat: This specimen was found on the bark of a recently fallen tree at the James. H. Barrow Field Station.

Description: This is a minuscule specimen is acrocarpous. The tuft has a circumference equivalent to a U.S. nickel consisting of tightly packed branches (fig. 5 & 6). At most, this moss is 5 mm tall including the height of the sporophyte. The gametophyte is just 2 mm tall. The lance shaped leaves are only a few mm long with a well defined midrib that ends just before the leaf tip(fig. 1 & 2). The stems have a slight reddish hue, while the rest of the plant is a darker green. When dry, the leaves curl into the stem, but the leaves spread out into a near star pattern when wet (fig. 5 & 6). The capsules rise above the gametophyte and are easily visible. The capsules have slight striations and teeth (fig. 3, 5, & 7).    

Key used: McKnight, K. B., et al. (2013). Princeton field guides: Common mosses of the notheast 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 leave...
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 not rippled or wavy when wet...
9.Leaves <4 mm long...
21. Leaves spread in various directions or barely diverging from stem when wet; plants lacking brood branchlets...
22. Plants 0.2 - 2 cm tall...
34. Plants growing on bark of trees (above tree base)...
35. Shoots in clusters, not connected by creeping stems...
36. Capsules on stalks well above leaves, stalks clearly visible...
38. Leaves tightly curled and contorted when dry; capsules cylindrical, with 8 ribs when dry, mouth as broad as capsule...

Ulota crispa

For more information on Ulota crispa please review the following links:
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ULCR2
http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/mosses/Ulota_crispa-bruchii.pdf
http://flnps.org/native-plants/ulota-and-orthotrichum-tree-cushion-mosses