Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.
No photograph on file for this species yet. Contributors can submit one.
Description
Funaria hygrometrica is a small, annual to short-lived acrocarpous moss, usually forming loose green patches on moist soil, burnt ground, walls, and disturbed habitats. The gametophyte is the dominant generation and consists of delicate, erect leafy shoots, generally 5–30 mm tall. The stems are slender and unbranched, bearing numerous small leaves arranged spirally around the axis. Leaves are simple, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, usually 1–3 mm long, with a pointed apex and a distinct midrib (costa) extending toward the tip. The leaves are green, thin, and often twisted when dry but expand when moistened. The leaf margins may be slightly toothed near the apex. The sporophyte is highly characteristic and consists of a long reddish-brown seta (stalk), usually 1–4 cm long, arising from the tip of the gametophyte. The capsule is pear-shaped (pyriform), asymmetric, and inclined or curved, initially green but becoming brown at maturity. The capsule possesses a well-developed operculum (lid) and a peristome consisting of two rows of teeth that regulate spore release. A hairy calyptra covers the young capsule. Spores are small, spherical, and dispersed by wind. The capsule shows hygroscopic movements, twisting and bending with changes in humidity, which helps gradual spore dispersal.
Diagnostic Characters
Distribution
Native range: Widely distributed cosmopolitan moss. Found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America.
In Pakistan: Reported from, Himalayan regions, Moist shaded habitats. Common around Gardens, Irrigated areas, Damp walls, Burnt soils.
Hello! I'm UniFlora AI. Ask me anything about Bonefire Moss (*Funaria hygrometrica*) — identification tips, flowering season, uses, campus locations, or taxonomy.
Powered by UniFlora knowledge base.