Brachythecium frigidum (Mitt.) Sull.
golden short-capsuled moss (cold brachythecium moss)
Brachytheciaceae
Species Account Author: Wilf Schofield
Extracted from Some Common Mosses of BC
Introduction to the Bryophytes of BC
golden short-capsuled moss (cold brachythecium moss)
Brachytheciaceae
Species Account Author: Wilf Schofield
Extracted from Some Common Mosses of BC
Introduction to the Bryophytes of BC
Photograph
Species Information
Species description:
Genus name meaning short sporangium, a feature of many species. Species name meaning very rough, probably in reference to the rough seta.
Reproduction:
Sporophytes common, red-brown, maturing in early spring.
Distinguishing characteristics:
The genus Brachythecium is a very troublesome one. The shortened, inclined sporangium associated with a creeping leafy plant bearing glossy leaves with a single midrib will usually indicate this genus, although related genera can pose difficulties. The rough seta is also a useful feature in this species. This, combined with leaves that are not curved and the epiphytic habitat are usually enough to separate this species.
Habit:
Forming tangled mats of light green, somewhat glossy plants, sometimes with attenuate shoots and branches, especially when growing on branches of trees or shrubs.
Similar Species:
To name this species without sporophytes is hazardous, but sporophytes are frequent in spite of the separation of male and female plants. B. curtum usually has a rough seta but the leaves are strongly decurrent (weakly decurrent in B. asperrimum). B. frigidum, a terrestrial species, is extremely similar but is larger and the leaves are sometimes curved. Some workers consider B. frigidum to be identical to B. asperrimum but, besides the usual difference in habitat, B. frigidum often has a twisted leaf apex (not twisted in B. asperrimum) and the alar cells are often enlarged (not enlarged in B. asperrimum). The habit of B. frigidum shows leaves that are closely or slightly spread from the stem while in B. asperrimum leaves are wide-spreading and the shoots sometimes appear somewhat flattened.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: Some Common Mosses of BC
Habitat and Range
Habitat
On branches and trunks of trees and shrubs of somewhat open forest, also on decaying logs and rock (see note on similar species)Range
World DistributionEndemic to western North America from southern Alaska into California, mainly west of the western mountain chains. The closely related B. frigidum is more widely distributed in western North America and extends southward to the mountains of Mexico.
Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Brachythecium gemmascens C. Mnll. & Kindb. in Mac. & Kindb.
Brachythecium lamprochryseum C. Mnll. & Kindb. in Mac. & Kindb.
Brachythecium lamprochryseum var. giganteum Grout
Brachythecium lamprochryseum var. solfatarense Grout
Brachythecium pseudostarkei Ren. & Card.
Brachythecium subasperrimum Card. & ThTr.
Brachythecium washingtonianum D. C. Eat. in Grout