Splachnoid Dung Moss (Tayloria splachnoides)
Description
Plants 1-3 cm, in loose tufts, clear green distally. Stems sometimes branched. Leaves crowded at stem and branch apices, turgid when dry, lingulate to obovate, 3 - 0.7-1 mm; margins recurved and entire proximally, strongly serrate distally; apex blunt or apiculate; costa ending 4 or 5 cells before apex. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition synoicous or autoicous. Seta yellow, becoming red with age, 1.5-3 cm, slightly twisted, slender. Capsule elongate-ovoid before maturity, cylindric with age, urn 1-1.5 mm when dry, 2-3.5 mm when moist; hypophysis same color as urn or somewhat more pale, 3 mm; columella short- to long-exserted when dry; operculum deciduous, long-conic, apex acuminate; peristome inserted below mouth; exostome teeth 16, split into 32 linear-lanceolate filaments, reflexed inrolled when dry, red, narrowly lanceolate. Spores 14-16 -m, slightly roughened.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Bryophyta
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Class: Bryopsida
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Order: Funariales
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Family: Splachnaceae
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Genus: Tayloria
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