Pottiaceae

The plants in this family are generally small and erect,growing together in a compact patch.The nerve in the long narrow leaf is conspicuous. Papilla are usually seen on the leaf. The capsule is usually erect.

Triquetrella papillata

Found in sandy soils on dunes at beaches and in grassland.

The leaves are in three rows which spiral around the stem. In this photo they are moist, but when dry they close in against the stem and look like a fine rope.

This image shows the papillae on the leaf.

Syntrichia papillosa
(syn. Tortula papillosa)

An interesting moss! Those structures in this image that look like capsules are actually structures containing leaves producing brood-bodies - a means of asexual reproduction.

Sporophytes have not been found on this moss in New Zealand.

The brood bodies can be seen along the vein near the tops of the leaves.

A closeup of the leaf and scattered brood bodies.

A 4-celled brood body x400.(The brood body is less than 0.01 mm wide).

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