Polytrichum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Polytrichum
Male gametophytes of Polytrichum strictum bearing antheridia.
Male gametophytes of Polytrichum strictum bearing antheridia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Polytrichopsida
Subclass: Polytrichidae
Order: Polytrichales
Family: Polytrichaceae
Genus: Polytrichum
Hedw.

Polytrichum is a genus of mosses, commonly called haircap moss or hair moss, which contains approximately 70 species that cover a cosmopolitan distribution. Less common vernacular names include bird wheat and pigeon wheat. The genus has a number of closely related sporophytic characters. The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek words polys, meaning "many", and thrix, meaning "hair". This name was used in ancient times to refer to plants with fine, hairlike parts, including mosses, but this application specifically refers to the hairy calyptras found on young sporophytes. There are two major secitons of Polytrichum species. The first, section Polytrichum, has narrow, toothed, and relatively erect leaf margins. The other, section Juniperifolia, has broad, entire, and sharply inflexed leaf margins that enclose the lamellae on the upper leaf surface.[1][2]

[edit] Physiology

Mosses in the genus Polytrichum are endohydric, meaning water must be conducted from the base of the plant. While mosses are considered non-vascular plants, those of Polytrichum show clear differentiation of water conducting tissue. One of these water conducting tissues is termed the hadrom, which makes up the central cylinder of stem tissue. It consists of cells with a relatively wide diameter called hydroids, which conduct water. This tissue is analogous to xylem in higher plants. The other tissue is called leptom, which surrounds the hadrom and contains smaller cells. This tissue is, on the other hand, analogous to phloem.[3]

Cross section of a leaf of Polytrichum commune showing parallel photosynthetic lamellae at 400x magnification. The green cells contain chloroplasts.
Cross section of a leaf of Polytrichum commune showing parallel photosynthetic lamellae at 400x magnification. The green cells contain chloroplasts.

Another characteristic feature of the genus is its parallel photosynthetic lamellae on the upper surfaces of the leaves. Most mosses simply have a single plate of cells on the leaf surface, but those of Polytrichum have more highly differentiated photosynthetic tissue. This is an example of a xeromorphic adaption, an adaptation for dry conditions. Moist air is trapped in between the rows of lamellae, while the larger terminal cells act to contain moisture and protect the photosynthetic cells. This minimises water loss as relatively little tissue is directly exposed to the environment, but allows for enough gas exchange for photosynthesis to take place. The microenvironment between the lamellae can host a number of microscopic organisms such as parasitic fungi and rotifers. Additionally, the leaves will curve and then twist around the stem when conditions become too dry, this being another xeromorphic adaptation. It is speculated that the teeth along the leaf's edge may aid in this process, or perhaps also that they help discourage small invertebrates from attacking the leaves.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Smith Merrill, Gary L. (2007), “Polytrichum”, in Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+, Flora of North America, vol. 27, New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press 
  2. ^ Crum, Howard Alvin; Anderson, Lewis Edward (1981), Mosses of Eastern North America, Columbia University Press, p. 1281-1282, ISBN 0-231-04516-6 
  3. ^ a b Silverside, A.J. (2005), Biodiversity Reference: Polytrichum commune Hedw., University of Paisley, <http://www-biol.paisley.ac.uk/bioref/Bryophyta/Polytrichum_commune.html>. Retrieved on 16 February 2008