Specimen #15 Pylaisiadelpha tenuirostris, Gentle Moss

 Figure 1: Close up image of leaf arrangement on the stem.

 Figure 2: Image taken of the moss' leaf using a dissecting scope.

Figure 3: Showing where the moss was found on its substrate.

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          Name: Pylaisiadelpha tenuirostris

-          Common Name: Gentle Moss

-          Family: Hypnaceae

-          Collection Date: November 3, 2016

-          Habitat: Found on dead tree stump, only moss on stump

-          Location: Woods near my house

-          Description: Moss looks to have some fuzzy kind of leaf structure, bound very tightly to the bark of the tree, was very moist outside even within a small wooded area

-          Keying Guide: Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians by Karl B. McKnight

-          Intro Key: p. 16 Pleurocarop, Lance, No Midrib…. Key VII p. 362; 1B Terrestrial plants, usually not submerged under water, shoots mostly <10cm and stiffer; leaves <3mm long….5; 5B Plants on dry rocks, tree trunks, tree bases, rotten logs or stumps….8; 8B Plants small, stem leaves <2mm long, capsule stalks <2cm tall….9; 9B Stem and branch leaves similar in shape, 0.2-1.3mm long….10; 10B Plants grow in mats lacking obvious radial growth, shiny to dull green, branches without clusters of tiny branchlets….11; 11B Branches very thin, <0.25mm in diameter, creeping along substrate, plants on rocks, rotting logs, and tree bark (commonly near base of tree)…..13; 13B Plants appear less orderly, branches running in various directions, leave upon wetting spreading at least 45°….14; 14A Leaves 0.5-1.1mm long, tips can curve off to the side but generally straight, branches somewhat flattened…. Pylaisiadelpha tenuirstris p. 227