Fissidens

Scientific name

Fissidens Hedw.

Family

Fissidentaceae

Similar genera

Caulerpa taxifolia, Fontinalis and Vesicularia

Native distribution

cosmopolitancosmopolitan:
(adj) essentially worldwide in distribution

Species cultivated

Fissidens fontanus (Bach. Pyl.) Steud.

F. geppii M. Fleisch.

F. grandifrons Brid.

F. nobilis Griff.

F. splachnobryoides Broth. (synonym of F. flaccidus Mitt.)

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

information not available

Habit

grows on rocks and soil, occasionally submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface

Brief description

Perennialperennial:
(adj) (of a plant) having a life cycle of more than two years
creeping moss. Non spore-producing generation (gametophytegametophyte:
(n) the gamete-producing haploid phase in the plant life cycle; in some lower vascular plants it is multicellular and independent
) is dominant, forming a dense mat of dark green, feathery stems. Stems simple or irregularly branched, branching pattern variable; elongate rhizoids along ventralventral:
(adj) of the front of an organ or the side facing or nearest the axis (syn. adaxial) (compare dorsal); upper surface
surface (roots absent). Leaves distichousdistichous:
(adj) (of leaves or flowers) distinctly arranged in two ranks along an axis; leaves may be opposite or alternate
, alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
. Spore-producing generation (sporophyte) emersedemersed:
see emergent
. Dispersal by spores and stem fragments.

Natural habitat

rocks, clay soil, caves, shaded areas; grows on bare soil near water, or on shady hillsides and backyards

Additional comments

A cosmopolitancosmopolitan:
(adj) essentially worldwide in distribution
genus in the nonvascular plant phylum Bryophyta (mosses). The species cultivated are of questionable taxonomic identity. The feathery, pinnatepinnate:
(adj) in the form of a feather; of, e.g., leaflets, lobes, or veins: arranged in two rows along an axis
stems are distinctive; this moss is readily identifiable.