The year of moss: day 12

I am writing about Brachythecium rutabulum today, because I think that is what I have photographed here. However, I am not entirely convinced that what I have photographed here is, in fact, B. rutabulum. The things about this specimen that do fit B. rutabulum are the leaf size and shape, colour, and overall "look" of the plant. The things that don’t fit B. rutabulum are the entire (not toothed) leaf margins and forked midvein. For those who know the mosses of Aotearoa better than I do, feel free to correct me.

Anyways, regardless of whether or not my photos are B. rutabulum, I’ll write a little bit about this species. Brachythecium rutabulum is very common both in Aotearoa and worldwide. It is often called a "weedy" moss, although it is considered native. The habitat requirements of B. rutabulum are very broad, although it is most frequently seen in moist areas. The whole Brachytheciaceae family, within which B. rutabulum sits, is a little tricky to identify species within. The differences between species are often subtle, and the species are often quite variable. Brachythecium rutabulum is probably one of the easiest species in the family to ID, yet even so it can be tricky (as demonstrated by my uncertainty about my photos here).
Cuteness: 5/10
Distinctiveness: 5/10
LMR: 5/10

Posted on October 28, 2024 02:14 AM by fuligogirl