Splachnum sphaericum

Splachnum sphaericum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Subclass: Bryidae
Order: Splachnales
Family: Splachnaceae
Genus: Splachnum
Species:
S. sphaericum
Binomial name
Splachnum sphaericum

Splachnum sphaericum, also known as pinkstink dung moss,[1] is a species of moss. This species occurs in North America.[1] It also occurs in upland Britain, where it is known as round-fruited collar-moss[2][3] and in north temperate and boreal regions of Europe. Its habitat is bog and wet heathland where it grows on herbivore dung. This and other Splachnum species are entomophilous. The sporophytes, which are generally coloured red or black, produce an odour of carrion that is attractive to flies and the spores are dispersed by flies to fresh dung.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b NRCS. "Splachnum sphaericum". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  2. ^ Edwards, Sean R. (2012). English Names for British Bryophytes. British Bryological Society Special Volume. Vol. 5 (4 ed.). Wootton, Northampton: British Bryological Society. ISBN 978-0-9561310-2-7. ISSN 0268-8034.
  3. ^ British Bryological Society (12 December 2011). "Europe Hedw" (PDF). Plants Profile. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  4. ^ J. R. Vaizey (1890) On the Morphology of the Sporophyte of Splachnum luteum. Annals of Botany 1, 1-8.