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Grimmia orbicularis
Moss. Grimmia orbicularis grows in dark green to greyish, hoary, usually hemispherical cushions, leaves are appressed and twisted when dry, erect when moist, broadly lanceolate, abruptly contracted into hair-point, keeled above. Hair-points are short to long, smooth to denticulate, margins are recurved in the middle of the leaf, on one or both sides. The capsules are usually present, they are exerted, bent down into the cushions by the arcuate setae, ovoid and smooth, peristome teeth are orange, broad, cribrose, irregularly cleft t apex, operculum is mammillate. G. pulvinata most resembles G. orbicularis, with which it sometimes grows, but G. orbicularis has a rounder capsule and a lid with a blunt, nipple-like tip.
G. orbicularis grows on limestone (particularly Carboniferous) rocks and boulders in the lowlands, often in sunny, exposed places. Less often, it grows on the mortar of old walls. Spotted on an old brick wall with mortar.
Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.; f/36; ISO Speed Rating: 200. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 90.0 mm. Flash fired
Spotted on Mar 7, 2014
Submitted on Mar 11, 2014
5 Comments
The capsules must be 1-2 mm in size. I guess we should collect quite a bunch to get a small salad. But you are right, Mark, they look quite ripe!!
Thanks Leuba!
I think they're ripe. Let's have a fruit salad.
Absolutely beautiful arlanda. So different to the spore capsules you see everywhere. Thanks for sharing pics and information.
I changed the first picture!