Specimen 12: Weissia controversa

Figure 1: W. controversa attached to a rock. Individual shoots are densely packed together. 

Figure 2: Capsule of W. controversa is ungrooved when dry, and egg shaped. (Magnification x19.2)

Figure 3: Capsule plus seta are about 7 mm tall. (Magnification x15)

Figure 4: Shoots of W. controversa are acrocarpus, measuring about 5 mm tall. 

Leaves are about 1 mm long.(Magnification x15)

Figure 5: Leaves are lance-shaped and without midrib. (Magnification x40)

Name: Weissia controversa
Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Pottiaceae
Common Name: Pigtail moss
Collection Date: 09/15/2015
Habitat: Attached to a rock wall, forest area. 
Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Description: Small, cushion appearance. Leaves are tiny, about 1 mm, and lance-shaped. No midrib is present. Capsules are upright, operculate, and egg-shaped; sporophyte about 7 mm tall. Plants dark green when wet, and acrocarpus, about 5 mm tall.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used: McKnight, Karl B. et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Texts, New Jersey

Keying steps:

Growth from.... acrocarpus
Leaf shape.... lance-like acrocarpus

Midrib..... lance like acrocarpus without midrib..... Key II pp. 342

Key II pp. 342

1. Plants darker green, densely packed but not in domed mounds, leaves folded... 3

3. Plants on rocks, leaves not folded at base..... 4

4. leaf surface not rippled or wavy when wet.... 9

9. Leaves <4 mm long.... 21

21. Leaves spreading in various directions, lacking brood branchlets.... 22

22. Plants 0.2-2 cm tall.... 34

34. Plants growing on rocks, soil.... 39

39. Shoots not surrounded by persisent protonema.... 40

40. Leaves not at all bluish and not cobwebby or moldy in appearance.... 41

41. Leaves strongly contorted when dry, twisted and curled.... 42

42. Capsules upright, not grooved when dry.... 43

43. Capsules goblet or egg shaped, up to 1 mm long, stalk 2-8 mm tall.... 45

45. Leaves 1-2 mm long... 46

46. Capsule rim with tiny teeth.... 47

47. Plants yellow green, stalks 3-8 mm.... Weissia controversa pg. 81