Species description:
Genus name referring to curved, a possible reference to the curved sporangium; the species name describing the star-like appearance of the radiately spreading leaves of the stem and branch tips.

Reproduction:
Sporophytes infrequent; sporangia curved-­subcylindric, light to dark brown; seta red to reddish-yellow, elongate; possibly propagated mainly through fragmentation of the leafy shoots.

Distinguishing characteristics:
The squarrose, narrowly triangular leaves and the relatively soft plants that grow in damp habitats usually make this plant readily recognizable .

Habit:
Forming golden green, brownish-green to dark green glossy mats of usually erect to suberect loosely interwoven shoots.

Similar Species:
Often Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus grows in the same habitat as C. stellatum; the leaves are also squarrose, but the stems are red-brown (in Campylium they are yellowish or green) and the shoots are more rigid than in Campylium. In the same habitat Dicranella palustris also has squarrose leaves but the leaves have a strong midrib and are lanceloate, the stems are never branched and the plants grow in. tight turfs on mineral soil.

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

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Amblystegium stellatum (Hedw.) Lindb.