Warnstorfia exannulata (B.S.G.) Warnst.
ringless hook-moss (warnstorfia moss)
Amblystegiaceae
Species Account Author: Wilf Schofield
Extracted from Some Common Mosses of BC
Introduction to the Bryophytes of BC
ringless hook-moss (warnstorfia moss)
Amblystegiaceae
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 referring to the curved branches, exaggerated by the curved leaves on the stems. Species name based on the absence of a ring of specialized cells (annulus) around the mouth of the sporangium.
Reproduction:
Sporophytes occasional, with red-brown setae and dark brown to light brown sporangia. Plants also probably readily fragmented.
Distinguishing characteristics:
The wet habitat, combined with the well defined group of alar cells and the curved leaves with a midrib are distinctive. It is the most common aquatic and wetland species of the genus in the Province.
Habit:
Loosely to densely interwoven, reclining, dark green to purplish-brown mats of glossy plants.
Similar Species:
D. ftuitans grows in similar habitats, but is less common. It lacks the distinctive alar cells and the leaf apices are generally markedly toothed. Cratoneuron filicinum, which shows obvious differentiated alar cells, does not exhibit the strongly curved leaves; the plants also tends to be more obviously pinnately branched. D. crassicostatus also lacks the distinctive alar cells and tends to be confined to calcium rich sites; also tends to be more rigid than the rather soft plants of D. exannulatus.
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
In swamps, peatland, seepage sites and submerged to floating in the quiet waters of pools, lake margins and backwaters of watercourses. Range
World DistributionCircumpolar in the Northern Hemisphere and scattered in the Southern Hemisphere. In North America extending southward in the east to New York State and Wisconsin; in the west to Arizona.
Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Drepanocladus exannulatus (Schimp.) Warnst.
Drepanocladus exannulatus var. alpinus (Grav.) Wijk & Margad.
Drepanocladus exannulatus var. brachydictyon (Renauld) G. Roth
Drepanocladus exannulatus var. exannulatus
Drepanocladus exannulatus var. falcifolius (Renauld) Grout
Drepanocladus exannulatus var. purpurascens
Drepanocladus exannulatus var. purpurescens (Schimp.) Herz.
Drepanocladus exannulatus var. rotae (De Not.) Loeske
Warnstorfia exannulata var. exannulata
Warnstorfia exannulata var. purpurascens (Schimp.) Tuom. & T. Kop.