On the side of an acidic seep, RRG, Rough Trail. Indian Staircase Dist.
While at a glance this may look like red penny moss, Rhizomnium punctatum, it’s not, R. appalachianum has fuzzy stalks, and the R. punctatum is smooth margined with acuminate tips. This lush patch growing on ericaceous mixed organic soil is probably Plagiomnium medium, large microphyll saber tooth moss, has toothed microphyll just like P. ciliare with an acuminate tip, transitional form(vegetative and erect fertile). The difference can be seen in size, massive microphyll at the tips of the erect stem are 12mm long, much larger than P.ciliare, the size causes a more recurved look. The amount of vegetative creeping stage individuals is often significantly less in this species. To get an immediate ID, the stems of P. ciliare produce one capsule stype at a time, P. medium forms multiple capsule stype per erect fertile stalk.
How are mosses divided in guides and keys primarily, they are divided into 3 large psuedogroups based on morphological habits of their fertile stages and their peristome and capsule formations.
These above are acrocarps, simple erect stalk forming species that rarely fork stalks, often forming clumps or clusters. Capsules arise from the apex of the stalks.
Matting species that sprawl, have capsules that arise mid stem, branch freely, irregularly, or in any pinnate patterns are described as pleurocarps; peristomes often have guide teeth set up in multiples.
Peat group, Sphagnum spp. air pocketed erecting stems with a crowned cluster. almost always in saturated conditions.
Right now, parts of Wolfe county and Menifee County are flooded, seeing what can be done to mitigate food shortages and help locals is possible.
https://www.wymt.com/2021/03/03/ways-to-help-eastern-kentucky-flood-victims/
