Species description:
Genus name refers to the relationship to Dicranum and the resemblance to another moss, Weissia. Species name referring to the sharp pointed leaves.
Comments:
This moss must be highly tolerant to exhaust fumes because it often abounds on trees along busy urban streets.
Distinguishing characteristics:
The usual epiphytic habitat and turf-forming masses added to the erect sporophytes with red peristomes, are distinctive.
Habit:
Forming turfs or tufts of dark green to light green plants.
Similar Species:
Zygodon viridissimus is less common in the same habitat and also produces abundant gemmae. The tufts are not as condensed and the leaves coil helically around the shoot when dry; in Dicranoweisia the leaves are individually twisted in all directions. Orthotrichum consimile, occurring often on the same trees as Dicranoweisia, has short setae and grooved sporangia; peristome teeth in Orthotrichum are in two rows rather than one, as in Dicranoweisia.
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:
Didymodon hinckleyi E.B. Bartram