Plagiomnium affine

Plagiomnium affine, the many-fruited thyme-moss,[1] is a species of thyme-moss found in old-growth boreal forests in North America, Europe and Asia, growing in moist, but not wet, basic to slightly acidic micro-habitats in woodland and in turf. ('Plagio' = oblique, 'Mnium' = genus of thyme-moss)

Many-fruited thyme-moss
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Subclass: Bryidae
Order: Bryales
Family: Mniaceae
Genus: Plagiomnium
Species:
P. affine
Binomial name
Plagiomnium affine
(Blandow ex Funck) T. Kop.
Chloroplasts in leaf cells

Forming low lawns, stems are usually some 2 cm long, with densely packed leaves, though 10 cm long trailing infertile stems have only sparse leaves, smaller than those on fertile stems. Leaves strongly curled when dry, spreading plane when moist, the basal leaves broadly elliptic to rounded, those at the apex mucronate. Leaf edges of bases decurrent on stem, the upper leaves oblong to lingulate and constricted at base, toothed.[2] The leaf cells are arranged in diagonal rows and are easily discerned with a lens.[3]

Experiments to determine the efficacy of cryoprotectants show that the leaf covering is relatively impermeable to sugars, proline, and polyethylene glycols, but that dimethylsulfoxide is readily absorbed. Even so, it was found that frost hardiness is accompanied by a steep rise in cell sucrose concentration.[4] Cryoprotective compounds may play a major role in the frost tolerance of bryophytes.[5]

Synonyms
  • Astrophyllum cuspidatum Lindb.
  • Bryum aciphyllum Voit
  • Bryum affine (Blandow ex Funck) Brid.
  • Mnium affine Blandow ex Funck
  • Mnium cuspidatum Neck. ex Lindb.
  • Mnium cuspidatum var. affine (Blandow ex Funck) Sommerf.

References
  1. Edwards, Sean R. (2012). English Names for British Bryophytes. British Bryological Society Special Volume. 5 (4 ed.). Wootton, Northampton: British Bryological Society. ISBN 978-0-9561310-2-7. ISSN 0268-8034.
  2. "BiotaTaiwanica". Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  3. "British Bryological Society". Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  4. Oecologia Volume 91, Number 2 (1992)
  5. Cryoprotection of Plagiomnium affine induced by various natural and artificial substances
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