Orthotrichum pulchellum

Posted by Johan Dierckx (Wijnegem, Belgium) on 16 April 2011 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.

Series: Belgian bryophyta

Orthotrichum pulchellum (NL: Gekroesde haarmuts / EN: Elegant Bristle-moss) is a distinctive little Orthotrichum with twisted leaves when dry, which grows in loose, slightly branched, yellowish-green tufts that are usually less than 1 cm tall, but may grow to about 2 cm in height. Leaves are 2–2.5 mm long. Unlike most other members of the genus, O. pulchellum holds its 1.5 mm long capsules clear of the leaves on a seta 1–2 mm long. These capsules are pale red-brown when old and dry, and have 8 reflexed, orange peristome teeth; when unripe, they are covered by an almost hairless, pale calyptra tipped with dark brown and with a series of dark dots around the lower margin.

Image: Ranst (BE) - 22/02/2011

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