| Scientific
Name |
Origin
& Explanation |
Common
Name |
| AMBLYSTEGIUM |
(Gr) blunt +
cover. Ref bluntly conic lid of peristome. |
|
| AMBLYODON |
(Gr)
blunt + tooth. Ref blunt peristome teeth. |
|
| ANDREAEA |
Named
for J.G.R. Andreae, a German apothecary.
rupestris (L) ropes; a rock |
ROCK MOSS |
| ANOMODON |
(Gr) irregular +
tooth. Supposed unusual construction.
rostratus (L) beaked. Ref lid of peristome.
attenuatus (L) slender. Ref branches. |
RUG MOSS, APRON MOSS |
| ASTOMUM |
(Gr) without a
mouth. Lacking an operculum. |
|
| ATRICHUM |
(Gr)
without hairs. The only genus of POLYTRICHACEAE without hairs on the
calyptra. |
|
| AULACOMNIUM |
(Gr) furrow +
moss. Mature spore cases conspicuously ribbed. |
|
| BARBULA |
(L) barba: a
beard. Ref long twisted teeth.
unguiculata (L) unguis: a claw. Ref enlarged cells at leaf tip. |
LITTLE BEARD MOSS |
| BARTRAMIA |
Named for John
Bertram, noted American botanist.
pomiformis (L) apple form. Ref shape of capusle. |
APPLE MOSS |
| BRACHYTHECIUM |
(Gr) short +
case. Ref typically short spore case.
rivulare (L) Ref its moist habitat |
|
| BROTHERELLA |
Named for the
Finnish bryologist V.F. Brotherus. |
|
| BRYHNIA |
Named for the
Norwegian bryologist Nils Bryhn. |
|
| BRYOERYTHROPHYLLUM |
(Gr) Bryum: moss;
erythros: red; phyllo: leaf.
Ref the brick red colour of leaves. |
|
| BRYUM |
An ancient name
for moss.
argenteum (L) silver. Ref its silvery colour. |
SILVERY BRYUM |
| BUXBAUMIA |
named for its
discoverer J.C. Buxbaum.
aphylla (Gr) without a leaf. Leaves are rarely discernible. |
BUG-ON-A-STICK |
| CALLICLADIUM |
(Gr) kalli:
beauty; klados: branch.
haldanianum Named for J.B.S. Haldane. |
|
| CALLIERGON |
(Gr) Means
beautifully made. |
|
| CAMPYLIUM |
(Gr) curved.
Ref shape of the capsule.
stellatum (L) star-like. Ref star-like spreading of leaves at branch
tip. |
|
| CATASCOPIUM |
(Gr)
kata: down; skopion: to see. Ref curved capsule which "looks
down". |
GOLF-CLUB MOSS |
| CERATODON |
(Gr) horn +
tooth. Ref split teeth of peristome said to look like the horns of a
goat. The mature furrowed spore case is also horn-like in appearance
with a curved peristome suggesting the canine tooth of a carnivore.
purpureus (L) purpura: purple. Ref purplish colour of stem and
seta,
sometimes leaves. |
PURPLE MOSS |
| CIRRIPHYLLUM |
(L) cirrus: hair;
phyllum: leaf. Ref hair-pointed leaves. |
|
| CLIMACIUM |
(Gr) a little
ladder. Ref aspect of inner teeth. |
TREE MOSS |
| CRATONEURON |
(Gr)
kratos: rule or power; neuron: nerve. Ref. the strong nerve or cesta. |
|
| CTENDIUM |
(Gr) Ktenos:
comb. Branched in comb-like manner. |
|
| CYNODONTIUM |
(Gr) kynos: dog +
tooth. Teeth resemble a dog’s teeth. |
|
| DICHELYMA |
(Gr) dicha; in
two, asunder. Ref cleft veil of calyptra. |
|
| DICRANELLA |
(Gr) diminutive
DICRANUM
heteromalla (Gr) having hair on only one side. Ref leaves. |
|
| DICRANUM |
(Gr) flesh-hook
or fork. Ref forking of peristome teeth.
scoparium (L)
broom. Brush or broom-like growth of leaves. |
FORK MOSS OR BROOM MOSS |
| DIDYMODON |
(Gr) didymos:
double. Ref 2 divisions of peristome teeth. |
|
| DIPHYSCIUM |
(Gr) twice + a
vessel. Ref double wall of spore case.
foliosus (L) foliosus: leafy. |
GRAIN OF WHEAT MOSS |
| DISTICHIUM |
(Gr) distichon: in two rows.
Ref
2-ranked leaves. |
|
| DITRICHUM |
(Gr)
two + hair. Peristome teeth
split in 2 hair-like parts. |
|
| DREPANOCLADUS |
(Gr) drepan: sickle; klados: branch.
Ref
strongly curved leaves giving branch tips a hooked or sickle appearance. |
|
| ENCALYPTA |
(Gr)
veiled. Ref calyptra. |
EXTINGUISHER MOSS |
| ENTODON |
(Gr)
within + teeth. Teeth of
peristome within mouth of capsule. |
|
| EMPHEMERUM |
(Gr)
ephemeral. Short-living
plants. |
EMERALD DEWDROPS |
| EURHYNCHIUM |
(Gr)
well + beak: well-beaked. Ref
long, often twisted beak. |
|
| FISSIDENS |
(L)
split tooth. Ref forked
peristome teeth. |
|
| FONTINALIS |
(L)
springs or fountains. Indicating
its aquatic habitat.
antipyretica
(Gr) against fever. Believed
to have magical power to allay fever. |
|
| FUNARIA |
(L) funis: a cord, because of its twisting propensity. |
CORD MOSS |
| GRIMMIA |
Named
for J.F.C. Grimm. |
|
| GYMNOSTOMUM |
(Gr) gymnos: naked; stoma: mouth.
Ref
absence of teeth. |
|
| HAPLOCLADIUM |
(Gr) haplos: single; klados: a branch.
Ref
once-pinnate branching system as compared to bi- or tri-pinnate systems of
most species of THUIDIUM. |
|
| HEDWIGIA |
Named
for J.G. Hedwig, distinguished German botanist. |
|
| HELODIUM |
(Gr) helos: marsh or meadow. Marshy
habitats. |
|
| HERZOGIELLA |
Named
for the noted German bryologist Theodor Herzog. |
|
| HOMALIA |
(Gr)
homos: same or similar; ala: wing. Ref
flattened branches due to strongly complanate leaves. |
|
| HOMOMALLIUM |
(Gr)
homos: same or similar; ala: wing. Ref
leaves all pointing in same direction. |
|
| HYGROAMBLYSTEGIUM |
(Gr)
AMBLYSTEGIUM of aquatic habits. |
|
| HYGROHYPNUM |
(Gr)
a HYPNUM of aquatic habits. |
|
| HYLOCOMIUM |
(Gr) hyle: wood; komikos: of comedy.
"woods inhabiting" (Crum)
splendens
(L) splendid, beautiful. |
STAIR-STEP
MOSS, MOUNTAIN FERN MOSS, WOOD REVELLER (Marshall) |
| HYPNUM |
(Gr) Ancient name for some sort of moss supposed to promote sleep.
reptile
(L) reptilio: crawling.
curvifolium (L) curved leaf .
|
|
| ISOPTERYGIUM |
(Gr) isos: equal;
pteron: wing. Means
equal wings or sides.
Ref
leaves often spreading and complanate.
|
|
| LEPTOBRYUM |
(Gr) slender +
moss.
pyriforme (L) pear-shaped capsule. |
THREAD MOSS |
| LEPTODICTYUM |
(Gr) slender +
net. Ref fine network of leaf cells. |
|
| LESKEA |
Named for Prof. Gottfried Leske. |
|
| LEUCOBRYUM |
(Gr) white +
moss. Ref very light green colour |
WHITE MOSS |
| LEUCODON |
(Gr) leuco: white;
odon: tooth. Pale or whitish peristome teeth. |
|
| MEESIA |
Named for David
Meese, a Dutch gardener. |
|
| MNIUM |
(Gr) Ancient
Greek word for moss.
cuspidatum (L) point or apex. Ref the leaf
affine (L) affinis: related. Ref resemblance to M. cuspidatum with
which it is often confused
punctatum (L) dotted. Ref cell structure |
WOODSY MNIUM
DOTTED MNIUM |
| MYURELLA |
(Gr) mys: mouse;
ur: tail; ella: small. Ref similarity to a mouse's tail. |
|
| NECKERA |
(Gr) Named for
J.N. Necker, a distinguished botanist.
pennata (L) penna: a feather. |
|
| ONCOPHORUS |
(Gr) onkos: hook
or barb; phoros: bearing. Hook-like swelling at base of capsule. |
GOITER MOSS |
| ORTHOTRICHUM |
(Gr) straight
hair. Mosses with straight upright haired calyptra. |
|
| PHASCUM |
(Gr) an ancient
name for moss.
cuspidatum (L) pointed apex of leaf. |
|
| PHILONOTIS |
(Gr) philos:
loving. Means loving moisture.
fontana (L) fontis: spring. |
FOUNTAIN APPLE MOSS |
| PHYSCOMITRIUM |
(Gr) a fat paunch
+ a conical cap. |
TOP MOSS or URN
MOSS |
| PLAGIOMNIUM |
(Gr) plagio:
oblique; mnium: moss. Ref arching sterile shoots. |
|
| PLAGIOTHECIUM |
(Gr) plagio:
oblique; + a little chest. Ref obliquely inclined spore case. |
|
| PLAGIOPUS |
(Gr) plagio:
oblique + foot. Oblique or curved foot. |
|
| PLATYDICTYA |
(Gr)
platys: broad or flat; dictyon: net. Ref broad-meshed network
formed by short leaf cells. |
|
| PLATYGYRIUM |
(Gr) platys:
broad; gyros: circle. Ref broad annulus. |
|
| PLEURIDIUM |
(Gr) at the side,
as in some sporophytes.
subulatum (L) subula: awl. Leaves with long narrow tips. |
|
| PLEUROZIUM |
(Gr) pleura:
side. Ref branches produced on either side of a suberect stem in loose
pinnate arrangement. |
|
| POGONATUM |
(Gr) beard.
Ref hairy calyptra. |
|
| POLYTRICHUM |
(Gr) many hairs.
Ref hairy calyptra. |
HAIRCAP MOSSES |
| PTERYGYNANDRUM |
(Gr) pteron:
feather, wing. Ref lateral gynandrous inflorescences. |
|
| POHLIA |
Named for J.E.H.
Pohl.
nutans (L) nodding. Ref the capsule. |
|
| POTTIA |
Named for D.F.
Pott.
truncata (L) cut off squarely. Ref abrupt summit of spore case which
appears to have been sliced off. |
|
| PTILIUM |
(Gr) ptilion: a
small feather.
crista-castrensis (L) a crest. Ref resemblance to a military plume
or crest. |
OSTRICH PLUME
MOSS |
| PYLAISIELLA |
a
diminutive of PYLAISIA which was named for an early French bryologist
Bachelot de la Pylaie. |
|
| RHACOMITRIUM |
(Gr) a shred + a
veil. Ref torn base of calyptra. |
TORN VEIL MOSS |
| RHIZOMNIUM |
(Gr)
rhiza: root
+ mnium: moss. Ref abundance of rhizoids. |
|
| RHODOBRYUM |
(Gr)
rhodon:
rose; bryum: moss |
ROSE MOSS |
| RHYTIDIUM |
(Gr) rhytido:
wrinkle, fold, pucker. Ref wrinkled leaves. |
|
| RHYTIDIADELPHUS |
(Gr) Ref a
brotherly relationship to genus Rhytidium.
triquetrus (L) having 3 angles. Ref habit of branching in 3
directions. |
SHAGGY MOSS, ROUGHNECK MOSS |
| RHYNCHOSTEGIUM |
(Gr)
beaked +
cover. Ref beaked lid of capsule. |
|
| SCHISTOSTEGA |
(Gr) schistos:
easily cleft; stegos: roof. |
LUMINOUS MOSS,
CAVE MOSS, GOBLIN GOLD |
| SCORPIDIUM |
(Gr) skorpidion:
a scorpion. Curved leaves suggest a scorpion. |
|
| SELIGERIA |
(Gr) Named for
Ignaz Seliger, a Silesian pastor. |
|
| SPHAGNUM |
(Gr) Greek
designation for an unknown plant. |
|
| SPLACHNUM |
(Gr)
A name originally used for a species of lichen which was suggestive of the
shrunken apophysis of a Splachnum.
rubrum (L) red. |
COLLAR MOSS,
PARASOL or PETTICOAT MOSS |
| TAXIPHYLLUM |
(Gr) taxis: see;
phyllum: leaf. Noticeable arrangement of leaves in two rows. |
|
| TETRAPHIS |
(Gr) tetras:
four.
pellucida (L) translucent leaves.
geniculata (L) geniculum: a little knee. Seta bent like a knee. |
FOUR-TOOTH MOSS |
| TETRAPLODON |
(Gr)
fourfold + tooth. Ref teeth numbering 16 which separate in twos to
make four pairs.
angustatus (L) narrowed. Ref matured capsule. |
|
| THELIA |
(Gr)
thele:
nipple. Ref strong mammilose leaf cells. |
|
| THUIDIUM |
(Gr)
thuja, an ancient name for the cedar tree which it resembles
minutulum (L) tiny
delicatulum (L) delicate, dainty.
abietinum (L) abies: balsam. Strongly resembles arrangement of
balsam needles. |
COMMON FERN MOSS
WIRY FERN MOSS |
| TIMMIA |
Named
for Joachim Christian Timm of Machim Germany. Crum tells us that
"Mount Timmia on Ellesmere Island was recently named for this genus
at the suggestion of a Canadian bryologist, Guy Brissard." |
INDIAN BRAVE MOSS |
| TOMENTHYPNUM |
(L) Ref the
tomentum characteristic of a moss which is otherwise suggestive of a
HYPNUM. A "hairy HYPNUM". |
|
| TORTELLA |
(L) twisted.
Ref the peristome teeth.
tortuosa (L) Ref the strongly crisped leaves. |
|
| TORTULA |
(L) tortus:
twisted. Ref the teeth. |
SCREW
MOSS (England) |
| TREMATODON |
(Gr) a
perforation + a tooth.
longicollis: long + neck. |
|
| ULOTA |
(Gr) curled.
The curled leaf mosses (some species). |
|
| WEISSIA |
Named for
Friedrich Wilhelm Weiss. |
|
