TOMENTYPNUM NITENS (Hedw.) Loeske
Fuzzy Hypnum Moss
FAMILY:
Brachytheciaceae
CHARACTERS: Large
glossy yellow-green to golden-brown plants (5-15 cm tall) in tufts. Stems erect with conspicuous reddish-brown
tomentum nearly throughout. Stem and branch
leaves similar, strongly pluriplicate, and 3-4 mm long with a strong costa
extending about 3/4 of leaf.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Tomentypnum
nitens is easily recognized by its robust, stiffly erect habit and
yellow-brown color with the stem covered with brownish “felt.” In the field it might be mistaken with a
pale Brachythecium salebrosum.
TOTAL RANGE: AK, ME, NH, CN, NJ, PA, OH, MI, WI, WA.
Circumboreal.
STATE RANGE:
Post-1980 record from Portage.
STATE STATUS:
1996-1997: Added, 1998 to
present: Endangered
HABITAT: Sedge
meadows in weakly and strongly minerotrophic peatlands; associated with Campylium stellatum and other “brown
mosses.”
HAZARDS: Drainage of habitat; frequent fires to control
successional growth of shrubs. Over
collecting by bryologists.
RECOVERY POTENTIAL:
Unknown, probably poor.
INVENTORY GUIDELINES:
Collect only a small amount of plants.
COMMENTS:
Unsuccessful attempts have been made to locate this taxon in similar
habitats. This plant is generally rare
in eastern US.
SELECTED
REFERENCES:
Crum, H.A. and L.E. Anderson. 1981. Mosses of Eastern
North America. Volumes 1 & 2. Columbia University Press. NY. 1328 pp.
Ireland, R.R. 1982.
Moss Flora of the Maritime Provinces.
National Museum of Natural Sciences, Publications in Botany, No.
13. Ottawa, Canada. 738 p.
Vitt, D.H., J.E. Marsh and R.B. Bovey. 1988.
Mosses, Lichens and Ferns of Northwest America. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta. 296 p.
Division of Natural
Areas and Preserves
Ohio Department of
Natural Resources
Created: 4/2001
Barbara K. Andreas
Database Code: SPPJ.432