Zygodon Moss

Description

These four species - of which Z. viridissimus is the commonest - are difficult to reliably distinguish from each other without checking under a microscope. They all form small (usually up to 1 cm tall), light green tufts and patches. The shortly pointed leaves are held at a wide angle from the stem when moist, giving the plants a characteristically neat appearance. Dry leaves become lightly twisted and appressed to the stem, considerably altering the appearance of shoots. Leaves are typically 1.5- 2 mm long, nerved, widest near the middle, and narrow rather abruptly at the tip. Gemmae are normally produced amongst the leaf axils, but only become discernible under a microscope. Capsules are infrequent, except in Z. conoideus. They are pale yellowish-brown, egg-shaped, borne on a seta 6-10 mm long, and produced in spring and summer.