*3327-l-1.jpg from: https://www.wildflowers.co.il/hebrew/picture.asp?ID=19934*

Exploring the Fascinating World of Cephaloziella starkei var. grandifolia Douin Moss

Introduction

Mosses are often overlooked, but they play crucial roles in ecosystems around the world. One particularly interesting species is

*3327-l.jpg from: https://www.wildflowers.co.il/hebrew/picture.asp?ID=19933*

Cephaloziella starkei var. grandifolia Douin, a tiny but mighty moss in the Cephaloziellaceae family. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the details of this fascinating plant.

*c_hampeana.jpg from: https://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages/gilaflora/cephaloziella_hampeana.html*

Background

Cephaloziella starkei var. grandifolia Douin

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is a type of leafy liverwort moss in the class Jungermanniopsida

*palm-tree-moss.jpg from: https://emilybirt.com/2019/02/09/we-saw-some-neat-things-on-the-nature-walk-at-starkey-park/*

and phylum Marchantiophyta. The genus Cephaloziella contains over 100 species found worldwide. These diminutive mosses are dioicous, meaning male and female reproductive structures are on separate plants.

Morphology and Identification

Identifying C. starkei var. grandifolia

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requires a keen eye and microscope, as the plants are very small, usually under 5 mm tall. The shoots are irregularly branched with transversely inserted, bilobed leaves. Leaf cells have thick walls and each contains several oil bodies. The underleaves are small or absent.
Compared to the main variety C. starkei, the grandifolia variety has larger leaf cells that are 12-18 μm wide. The perianth mouth is also less contracted. Sporophytes are uncommon but have a spherical capsule on a short seta when present.

Global Distribution and Habitat

Lactarius-fumosibrunneus-associated-with-F-grandifolia-var-mexicana-a-Fruit-bodies.png from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Lactarius-fumosibrunneus-associated-with-F-grandifolia-var-mexicana-a-Fruit-bodies_fig1_221688758

*881341.jpg from: https://www.bio-forum.pl/messages/3280/881327.html*

C. starkei var. grandifolia has a scattered global distribution and is considered rare in many regions. It grows in small patches on exposed, acidic soil or rock, often in disturbed habitats like path sides. The moss also colonizes soil in crevices and on ledges.

*180px-Cephaloziella_divaricata_rhizoide.jpeg from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cephaloziella_divaricata*

This variety has been recorded across Europe, from Spain and Portugal to Scandinavia and Russia. It’s also known from Macaronesia, Turkey, and a few locations in North America. More distribution data is needed as it may be under-recorded due to its small size.

Ecological Roles and Adaptations

Like other mosses, C. starkei var. grandifolia plays important roles in its habitats:

Stabilizing soil and preventing erosion
Retaining moisture and regulating humidity
Providing shelter and food for micro-organisms and invertebrates
Pioneering disturbed sites and facilitating succession

The moss has several adaptations for harsh environments:

Small size to avoid desiccation
Thick cell walls to retain water
Dark pigments to protect from UV radiation
Asexual reproduction via fragmentation

Conclusion

Cephaloziella starkei var. grandifolia Douin may be tiny, but it’s a fascinating and ecologically important moss. Its ability to colonize challenging habitats is especially noteworthy. The next time you’re on a hike, take a closer look – you might just spot this pint-sized wonder!
What other overlooked mosses have you encountered? Share your bryological adventures in the comments.