Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

Common Names and Classification

Funaria hygrometrica, commonly called bonfire moss or common cord-moss, is a type of water moss.

Typical Growth Habitats

It typically grows on shady, moist soil, and can also be found on moist walls, rock crevices, and areas that have recently experienced fires.

Cave Growth Record

It has been recorded growing in Niagara Cave, an artificially illuminated cave with no natural light.

Low-Light Morphological Adaptations

When growing in these low-light conditions, it develops a modified growth form: its internodes lengthen, and its leaves become longer and narrower.

Gametophyte General Characteristics

The gametophyte plant body is green, soft, and upright, reaching approximately half an inch in height.

Rhizoid Structure

The rhizoids of this species are multicellular, branched, and contain oblique septa.

Leaf Arrangement and Structure

The upright main axis bears a set of spirally arranged, sessile leaves that have a clearly distinct midrib.

Male Reproductive Organ Location

The male reproductive organ, the antheridium, is borne at the apex of the main plant axis.

Female Reproductive Organ Location

The female reproductive organ, the archegonium, develops at the meristem of a female lateral branch that grows out from the main axis.

Heavy Water Tolerance

Experimental testing has confirmed that F. hygrometrica is able to survive and grow in water consisting of 90% heavy water.