Specimen
#1
Figure 1: Fuligo Septica
Figure 2: Fuligo Septica under a dissecting scope
Figure 2: Fuligo Septica under a dissecting scope
Name: Fuligo
Septica
Common name: Dog vomit
Family: Physaraceae
Common name: Dog vomit
Family: Physaraceae
Collection Date: 11/11/16
Habitat: In the woods on a decaying branch.
Location: Behind the grass soccer field at Hiram College.
Description: Small bumps, darker because it is degrading.
Key used: http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?guide=Mycetozoa_GSMNP
Keying Steps:
Identification guide, checked boxes for Aethalium and dark then hit
search. Top hit was Fuligo Septica.
Specimen #2
Figure 1: Conocephalum
Figure 2: Conocephalum under a dissecting scope to better show the leaves.
Figure 2: Conocephalum under a dissecting scope to better show the leaves.
Figure 3: Leaf cells in Conocephalum
Name: Conocephalum
Common name: Snakeskin liverwort
Family: Conocephalaceae
Common name: Snakeskin liverwort
Family: Conocephalaceae
Collection Date: Sep 15, 2016
Habitat: On moist rock
Location: Nelson Ledges
Description: The leaf structure has large flat thallose. The appearance is similar to snake skin and
now sporophytes were present. Found near
running water.
Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to
Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.
Keying Steps:
Introduction Key
pg. 19
1b. Plants with
stems and leaves, the larger leaves in two rows on the stem and a third row of
leaves...present, ...sporophyte short-lived.....4
4b. Plants
...leafy,...sporophyte with sphaerical or ellipsoidal capsule...5
5a. Plants strongly flattened,
thalloid, without distinction between stem and leaf… 6.
6a.
Plants with opaque thallus that is … (p. 239) Order 6 Marchantiales
Pg 239. Order Marchantiales
1a.
Air pores present without lens…8
8b. Thalli without gemmae and without
marginal scales on underside…10
10a.
Air ore on a low mound of colorless cells… (pg.283. Conocephalum)
Genus Conocephalum
Specimen #3
Figure 1: Pylaisiadelpha tenuirostris lacking
sporophytes.
Figure 2: Leaf
shape of Pylaisiadelpha tenuirostris.
Figure 3: A single leaf of Pylaisiadelpha tenuirostris
Name: Pylaisiadelpha tenuirostris
Common name: Rapunzel moss or Gentle moss
Family: Hypnaceae
Common name: Rapunzel moss or Gentle moss
Family: Hypnaceae
Collection Date: Sep 7, 2016
Habitat: On moist fallen tree under a living tree
Location: Hiram College
Description: A very short vibrant green moss that was difficult to
remove in whole pieces from a fallen tree. No showing sporophytes.
Key used: Princeton Field Guides: Common Mosses of the Northeast
and Appalachians. McKnight, Karl B.,
Rohrer, Joseph R., Ward, Kirsten McKnight., and Perdrizet, Warren J. 2013
Keying Steps:
Introduction Key
pg. 362
1. Terrestrial plants, usually not
submerged under water; shoots mostly <10cm and stiffer; leaves <3 mm long…5
5.
Plants on dry rocks, tree trunks, tree bases, rotten logs or stumps…8
8.
Plants small; stem leaves <2 mm long; …9
9.
Stem and branch leaves similar in shape, .2-1.3 mm long…10
10.
Plants grow in mats lacking obvious radial growth, shiny to dull green;
branches without clusters of tiny branchlets …11
11.
Branches very thin, <.25 mm in diameter, creeping along substrate;
plants on rocks, rotting logs, and tree bark (commonly near base of tree)…13
13.
Plants appear to have been combed, branches running parallel to each
other; leaves upon wetting not spreading much… Shwetschkeopsis fabronia and Pylaisiadelpha
tenuirostris pg 227.
Specimen #4
Figure 1: Platydictya confervoides showing its wispy
look without sporophytes.
Figure 2: Close
up of Platydictya confervoides, to
show its thin leaves and branches.
Figure 3: Leaves
of Platydictya confervoides showing
no midrib and lance shapes.
Name: Platydictya confervoides
Common name: Algal Rock Moss
Family: Hypnaceae
Common name: Algal Rock Moss
Family: Hypnaceae
Collection Date: Sep 7, 2016
Habitat: On rock under a living tree
Location: Hiram College
Description: This small green moss has very thin leaves. No sporophytes were shown and it has a very
mat like look.
Key used: Princeton Field Guides: Common Mosses of the Northeast
and Appalachians. McKnight, Karl B.,
Rohrer, Joseph R., Ward, Kirsten McKnight., and Perdrizet, Warren J. 2013
Keying Steps:
Introduction Key
pg. 362
1. Terrestrial
plants, usually not submerged under water; shoots mostly <10 cm and stiffer;
leaves <3 mm long…5
5. Plants on dry
rocks…8
8. Plants small; stem leaves <2 mm
long…9
9.
Stem and branch leaves similar in shape…10
10.
Plants grow in mats, lacking obvious radial growth, shiny to dull green;
branches without clusters of tiny branchlets…11
11.
Branches very thin, <.25 mm diameter, creeping along substrate;
plants on rocks….13
13.
Plants appear less orderly, branches running in various directions;
leaves upon wetting spreading…14
14. Leaves .1-.5 mm long, tips
straight; branchlike threads …15
15.
Plants on calcareous rock; leaves .1-.3 mm long … Platydictya confervoides pg.229
Specimen #5
Figure 1: Oxyrrhynchium hians showing with spores that have bent
capsules.
Figure 2: Oxyrrhynchium hians under a dissecting scope to show the curvature of the spores and more of the leaf structure.
Figure 2: Oxyrrhynchium hians under a dissecting scope to show the curvature of the spores and more of the leaf structure.
Figure 2: Leaves of Oxyrrhynchium
hians showing a more ovate structure that comes to an abrupt point with a
midrib.
Name: Oxyrrhynchium
hians
Common name: Spare rug moss
Family: Brachytheciaceae
Common name: Spare rug moss
Family: Brachytheciaceae
Collection Date: Oct 10, 2016
Habitat: On rock under right next to small stream
Location: Hiram College
Description:
Key used: Princeton Field Guides: Common Mosses of the Northeast
and Appalachians. McKnight, Karl B.,
Rohrer, Joseph R., Ward, Kirsten McKnight., and Perdrizet, Warren J. 2013
Keying Steps:
Introduction Key
pg. 358
1. Plants creeping
or creeping with ascending shoot tips, top of plants rarely more than 3 cm
above substrate…7
7. Plants
terrestrial on soil, rocks…8
8. Leaves <2 mm
long…9
9. Plants grow in
tangled carpets or mats…10
10. Shoots lack
cluster or tiny branchlets at tips…11
11. Plants with
crowded, short, erect branches arising from creeping stems (carpet piles)…12
12. Leaves
spreading at least 45 degrees when wet and capsules bent over…13.
13. Leaves crowded, <1 cm long, capsule with
long beak… pg 241
Specimen #6
Figure 1: Filamentous green wispy strands of Spirogyra sp.
Figure 2: The
distinct spiraling chloroplasts around the individual cells of Spirogyra sp.
Name: Spirogyra
sp.
Common name: Water Silk
Family: Zygnemataceae
Common name: Water Silk
Family: Zygnemataceae
Collection Date: Oct 10, 2016
Habitat: In small pool in woods behind the soccer field
Location: Hiram College
Description: Small green filaments, no branching.
Key used: http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/algae/identification-guide/identify/guide
Keying Steps:
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/algae/identification-guide/identify/guide
1. Algae are filamentous
2. Individual
filaments are microscopic
3. Filaments are
unbranched
4. Chloroplasts
visible inside cells are green
5. Cell wall smooth
and featureless, filaments are long and cells are not easily dissociated
6. Chloroplast
ribbon shapped, spiraling around the cell.
7. Algal factsheet: Spirogyra
