2012 February 4 Lawn and Sidewalk Mosses

Location: 75yards NE of the intersection of Driftwood Rd and Overhulse Rd and 15yds N of the same intersection.
GPS 47*04'36.64" N 122*58'07.98 W Elevation 163ft.

Weather: clear blue skies. Less than or equal to 50F.

Habitat: altered landscape of an apartment complex.

Insects: none observed. People, cars, and an occasional bird in the background.

Mosses: I can't tell if the species that is growing in the grass is the same as is growing in the sidewalk. The sidewalk moss looks like it's making attempts at pinnate branching and the moss in the grass is almost all pinnately branched. Both are similar in color, but the sidewald moss has a distinct gold cast. Both are pleurocarps.

Next to Overhulse Road, there is a moss that has all but taken over the grass near a giant, non-native maple. I thought this moss was an acrocarp, on first glance, but, after pulling up a few strands, I cant tell if it's an acrocarp with innovations or a pleurocarp with few branches. The moss has a distinctly red stem. See photos.

Question: I wonder if the moss that's taking over the grass might be a successful native? It doesn't look like a super-tough Bryum spp.

Publicado el 06 de febrero de 2012 por homeformosses