E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Species description:
Genus name describing the peristome teeth that are often fused in fours when young. Species name meaning Mnium-like, although this similarity is difficult to discern.

Reproduction:
Sporophytes frequent, with brilliant red setae and dark brown to red-brown sporangia, maturing in summer. Sometimes dark brown to nearly black when dried.

Distinguishing characteristics:
The habitat on decomposing animal waste, the conic habit, the sporangia that show a somewhat swollen lower portion and a cylindric portion above it, and the usually wine-red seta are usually reliable features.

Habit:
Forming hard, rounded to conical, dark green to light green tufts.

Similar Species:
T. angustatus is very similar but the leaves are toothed (clearly visible with hand lens); those of T. mnioides lack teeth. T. pal­lidus is similar but has yellow setae and pale sporangia; Y. urceolatus is also similar but the seta is very short and the tufts are often very dense; the sporangia are also short and stout. Yayloria species usually do not form tufts and the sporangia lack a swollen lower portion. Splachnum sphaericum and S. vasculosum usually have very long, slender and readily collapsing setae; those of Tetraplodon are rigid.