Fissidens adianthoides, the maidenhair pocketmoss, is a moss in the family Fissidentaceae. It was first collected by Hedwig in 1801.
It is found all over North America and even in Greenland and Alaska.
The Nitinaht First Nations of Vancouver Island used maidenhair moss to bandage wounds. It was named by the Anglo-Saxons because it resembles pubic hair.
Geographic distribution
Habitat
It is found in shady sites such as nearby moving water, near waterfalls, soil, open fields of grass, around the forest floor, decaying wood, on dripping limestone and stone rocks. This moss can be commonly found on damp or wet soil and peat. It is scarcely found on decaying wood.
Distribution
Worldwide distribution: It is vastly distributed in the forests of the Northern Hemisphere, extending from the arctic, alpine and prairie regions, often in more sheltered locations. It is widely distributed across North America.
In context of the national and state/provincial distribution of Fissidens adianthoides are in the following:
Canada: AB, BC, LB, NB, NF, NS, NT, NU, ON, QC, SK, YT
United States: AK, AL, AR, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
Morphology
The plant itself is about 85 x 5mm. It is dioicous. Dioicous is defined as a plant having the male (antheridia) and female (archegonia) reproductive organs in separate individuals. An archegonium is a multicellular reproductive organ that produces female gametes. The antheridium is the male structure that holds, creates and releases sperm. It is a very robust plant and forms dark green to brown-green turfs.
Gametophyte
Stem
The stem is extremely branched. Fissidens adianthoides have a central strand. The central strand contains thin-walled cells called hydroids that conduct water and sterids which provide structural support.
Leaf
There are about 60 pairs of leaves that are slightly undulate (wavy) in texture. The shape is oblong to lanceolate (narrow oval) and tapered to an acute point. Sometimes the leaf can be obtuse in shape. The lamina also known as the leaf blade, is round and then narrows towards the apex. The leaf margin is crenulate (finely scalloped) to regular serrulate (sawlike). The marginal cells are often thinner with thicker cell walls. There are about 2-3 cells in the costa. The leaf cells are very turgid and irregularly round-like hexagons. These leaf cells are unistratose which means they are single layered. They are also smooth and firm-walled.
Reproductive structures
Perigonium
The perigonium is the reproductive structure which holds the male organs. It is made up of an antheridia, paraphyses and perigonial leaves. Paraphyses are upright sterile filament-like structures that support the reproductive apparatus of bryophytes.
Perichaetium
The perichaetium is reproductive structure which holds the female organs. It is made up of an archegonia, paraphyses, and perichaetial leaves. The perichaetium is located on short axillary branches.
Sporophyte
A sporophyte is the diploid multicellular stage in the life cycle of a moss which produces spores. They are commonly observed in this species. There is one sporophyte produced per perichaetium. The seta, which is a stalk that supports capsule, is relatively short and is 25 mm in length. It is red-brown in colour and inserted laterally. The operculum (lid) is about the same length as the rest of the sporangium. The capsule of the sporophyte is inclined, curved, bilaterally symmetric and about 1.5 mm. As for the calyptra, it is cucullate, smooth and about 2.5 mm. The spores are about 3-22 µm.
Since it is a member of the Bryopsida class it also has arthrodontous peristome teeth which aid in spore dispersal. Fissidens adianthoides have 16 red teeth. Arthrodontous teeth are made up of cell wall fragments. They are also hygroscopic, meaning they move according to changes in humidity. They are about 85–120 μm wide at the base of the teeth and the upper part of the teeth are finely papillose.
Life cycle
Like all bryophytes, Fissidens adianthoides have sporic meiosis as well as asexual reproduction.