Tayloria splachnoides(Schleich. ex Schwägr.) Hook.
Family: Splachnaceae
splachnoid dung moss
[Hookeria splachnoides Schleich. ex Schwägr., moreRaineria splachnoides De Not., Tayloria acuminata var. raineriana (De Not.) J.J. Amann, Tayloria obliqua Nees, Tayloria raineriana De Not., Tayloria splachnoides var. raineriana (De Not.) Paris]
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 µm, slightly roughened. Phenology: Capsules mature summer.
Humus covered rock, decaying logs, soil. low to moderate elevations. B.C., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), Nunavut, Que., Alaska, c, n Europe, e Asia (Japan).
Tayloria splachnoides is uncommon; it closely resembles T. acuminata but differs by its blunt or apiculate leaves, long-conic and acuminate operculum, and columella 1–1.3 mm high that is exserted when dry. The leaves are clustered at stem and branch apices. Both T. acuminata and T. splachnoides have long, 2-fid, red or red-brown peristome teeth that are reflexed and tightly rolled inside the urn when dry.