Eurhynchium praelongum (Hedw.) Ochyra
slender beaked-moss (eurhynchium moss)
Brachytheciaceae
Species Account Author: Wilf Schofield
Extracted from Some Common Mosses of BC
Introduction to the Bryophytes of BC
slender beaked-moss (eurhynchium moss)
Brachytheciaceae
Species Account Author: Wilf Schofield
Extracted from Some Common Mosses of BC
Introduction to the Bryophytes of BC
Species Information
Species description:
Species name referring to the very long trailing plants.
Comments:
Sometimes called Stokesiella praelonga, Eurhynchium stokesiior Eurhynchium praelongum, all of which are synonyms.
Distinguishing characteristics:
The slenderly branched, multipinnate plants that occur frequently in swampy depressions in forests and bear heart-shaped, sharply pointed, somewhat squarrose stem leaves are distinctive in most populations but the wide habitat tolerance of the species is often reflected in considerable variation in its growth form. The long-snouted operculum and rough seta are also useful characters.
Habit:
Loose to dense mats of light to dark green, somewhat arched, interwoven, much-branched shoots, sometimes densely branched with the main branches also bearing slender branchlets.
Similar Species:
See also notes under K. oregana and Hylocomium spendens. From species of Brachythecium, the more complex branching of Kindbergia, as well as the squarrose stem leaves are usually enough to separate it. From Eurhynchium pulchellum the blunt leaves of the Eurhynchium are usually diagnostic. Bryhnia hultenii, extremely rare in British Columbia is similar but occurs on logs subject to flooding; the leaves, however, are abruptly narrowed to a point, are never squarrose and possess rather swollen, thin-walled alar cells, features absent in the Kindbergia.
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
Most frequent in damp, swampy forest sites, around springs and in swampy depressions from sea level (indeed, on maritime rocks) to sub- alpine elevations; also on rotten logs, epiphytic on tree trunks and on rock. Range
World DistributionCircumpolar in the Northern Hemisphere, also in the Southern Hemisphere, in Australasia and South America; in eastern North America from southern Newfoundland, Ontario and Nova Scotia (where rare); in the west from southeastern Alaska to California and eastward to western Montana and Nevada, where often abundant.
Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Bryhnia brittoniae (Grout) Robins.
Bryhnia stokesii (Turn.) Robins.
Eurhynchium brittoniae Grout
Eurhynchium praelongum var. californicum Grout
Eurhynchium praelongum var. stokesii (Turn.) Dix.
Eurhynchium stokesii (Turn.) Schimp. in B.S.G.
Eurhynchium stokesii var. californicum (Grout) Grout
Kindbergia brittoniae (Grout) Ochyra
Kindbergia praelonga (Hedw.) Ochyra
Kindbergia praelonga var. californica (Grout) Ochyra
Kindbergia praelonga var. stokesii (Turn.) Ochyra
Oxyrrhynchium praelongum (Hedw.) Warnst.
Oxyrrhynchium praelongum var. californicum (Grout) Wijk & Marg.
Oxyrrhynchium praelongum var. stokesii (Turn.) Podp.
Stokesiella brittoniae (Grout) H. Rob.
Stokesiella praelonga (Hedw.) Robins.
Stokesiella praelonga var. californicum
Stokesiella praelonga var. stokesii (Hedw.) Robins