Bruchia bolanderi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bruchia bolanderi |
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| Conservation status | |
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Bruchia (plant)
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| Species: |
bolanderi
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Bruchia bolanderi, also called Bolander's candlemoss, is a very rare type of moss. You can find it in the western parts of the United States, like Oregon, California, and Nevada. This tiny plant loves to grow on wet, open soil. A cool way to spot it is by its unique capsules. They look like tiny upside-down pears!
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Bolander's candlemoss plants are very small. They stand upright and are usually only about 5 to 12 millimeters tall. That's less than half an inch!
Leaves and Stems
Their leaves are short and narrow. They are green or light brown. The leaves have a main vein, but it doesn't reach the very tip.
Special Capsules
The most noticeable part of this moss is its capsule. The capsule sits on a straight stalk, which is often longer than the plant's leaves. These capsules are about 2 to 3 millimeters long. They are light brown, beige, or grayish when they are fully grown. What makes them special is their shape: they are widest at the top and then narrow down to a long neck. This gives them their "upside-down pear" look.
Spores
Inside the capsules are tiny spores. These spores help the moss reproduce. Under a microscope, you can see that the spores have a bumpy or "warty" surface.
Where Does It Live?
Bolander's candlemoss is found only in western North America. It grows in Oregon, California, and Nevada. In California, you can find it as far south as Tulare County. However, it does not grow west of the Central Valley.
Habitat
This moss likes wet places. You can often find it in wet meadows or along the banks of streams. It prefers to grow on soil that has some organic material in it.
Mountain Home
It is a mountain plant, found at high elevations. It usually grows between 5,575 and 9,200 feet high. It often lives in forests with lodgepole pine trees (Pinus contorta). It can sometimes be found growing near other mosses like Aulacomnium palustre and species of Pohlia.
How It Grows
If an area has been recently disturbed, like a newly eroded streambank, Bolander's candlemoss can form large groups. Otherwise, it often grows alone among grasses.
Why Is It Rare?
Bolander's candlemoss is considered a rare species. The U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Southwest Region lists it as a "Sensitive Species." This means they are keeping an eye on it because its numbers are low. The California Native Plant Society also lists it as a species of concern.
Threats
Even though this moss can grow well in disturbed areas, too much disturbance can be a problem. For example, people walking and trampling along forest trails can harm the moss. This is why protecting its wet habitats is important for its survival.
How to Spot It in Nature
The best time to look for Bolander's candlemoss is during the summer.
Key Features to Look For
The easiest way to tell this moss apart from others is by its unique capsule. Look for the upside-down pear-shaped capsule on top of a somewhat long stalk. If you have a microscope, checking for the warty spores can also help confirm its identity. Without its capsules, B. bolanderi can look very similar to another moss called Leptobryum pyriforme.
