Splachnum rubrum
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| Splachnum rubrum | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Dried herbarium sample of S. rubrum, with the distinctive flower-like sporophyte | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Bryophyta |
| Class: | Bryopsida |
| Subclass: | Bryidae |
| Order: | Splachnales |
| Family: | Splachnaceae |
| Genus: | Splachnum |
| Species: | S. rubrum |
| Binomial name | |
| Splachnum rubrum | |
Splachnum rubrum (also known as red dung moss, brilliant red dung moss [1] or red parasol moss[2]), is a species of moss in the Splachnum genus which is found in the Northern Hemisphere. Like other species in the Splachnum genus, it is known for growing on animal waste and being entomophilous. Although very rare, its bright red-purple sporangia makes its sporophyte stage stand out well when seen in the wild.
The plant forms tufts of varying density[3] on herbivore dung. The gametophyte is green to yellow-green, with leaves that accumulate at the apex of the stem, which is usually between 1.5 and 3.0 cm long. The leaves are 5–7.5 mm long and obovate[4] or acuminated, with a costa disappearing in the apical lamina.[5] The leaf margins are coarsely toothed.
The sporophyte is the most conspicuous part of the plant and due to its shape and colors mistaken for an angiosperm flower. The capsule has an orange-brown capsule with a bright magenta hypophysis, shaped like an umbrella. It rests on a long (5–13 cm), straight, orange-red seta.
Splachnum rubrum obtains the distinctive habitus in summer, when the sporangium matures. In spring, the immature sporophytes may be confused with the mature sporophytes of S. sphaericum or the immature sporophytes of S. ampullaceum.[5] When mature, S. rubrum is easily distinguished from S. luteum by its color.