page_title: Buxbaumia viridis
section_title: Sporophyte
hierarchical_section_title: Buxbaumia viridis / Characteristics / Sporophyte
caption_attribution_description: Buxbaumia viridis, Schwäbisch-Fränkische Waldberge
context_page_description: Buxbuamia viridis, also known as the green shield-moss, is a rare bryophyte found sporadically throughout the northern hemisphere. The gametophyte of this moss is not macroscopically visible; the large, distinct sporophyte of B. viridis is the only identifying structure of this moss. This moss can be found singularly or in small groups on decaying wood, mostly in humid, sub-alpine to alpine Picea abies, Abies alba, or mixed tree forests. This moss is rare and conservation efforts are being made in most countries B. viridis is found in.
context_section_description: The sporophyte of Buxbaumia viridis is characteristic of the moss and is usually the only way to identify its presence in an area. The seta is straight and measures 5-10mm. The capsule is asymmetrical. The immature capsule is green, shiny, and may have an opalescent sheen due to the waxy cuticle covering it. The cuticle is a made of wax and contains way granules and crystals; this type of cuticle is associated with a few other mosses and liverworts such as in the Polytrichopsida and Marchantiaceae, as well as tracheophytes.  After the capsule matures in late summer to early fall, it develops its asymmetric shape and turns brown. The cuticle also begins to peel back, taking part of the epidermis with it. This gives the capsule a stringy appearance as the cuticle curls and frays. The sporophyte has an operculum, and this falls off to disperse spores. Spore count can rage from 1.4 to 9.0 million, which is a much higher number compared to other mosses. Sporophytes mature over the winter, and sporophytes can be found any time of year.
caption: Cuticle of B. viridis peeling back from sporophyte.
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