Andreaea nivalis

Andreaea nivalis, also known as snow rock-moss,[1] is a species of moss in the Andreaea family found in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Greenland, Spain, Japan, Russia and Poland. It is black and reddish, dioicous, and grows on wet, acidic rocks. It is threatened by droughts and global warming, and is a near-threatened species on the IUCN red list.

Andreaea nivalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Andreaeopsida
Order: Andreaeales
Family: Andreaeaceae
Genus: Andreaea
Species:
A. nivalis
Binomial name
Andreaea nivalis

Description

Andreaea nivalis was first described in 1811.[2] It is black and reddish, and grows in dense cushions.[3] Its leaves can be secund to falcate-secund, meaning they can be sickle-shaped, and curved towards one side. They are mostly subulate, meaning they are awl-shaped.[2] The leaves are mainly falcate-secund when dry. When moist, they are more spread out than when dry.[4] The leaves have a strong costa, and they can have a width of 0.16 millimetres (0.0063 in) or more, and a length of 0.8 millimetres (0.031 in) or more. Andreaea nivalis has sharp laminal papillae on its dorsal side, which almost reach to its base, and a very short fruit stalk.[3] Unlike other mosses in its species, which have six-valved capsules, Andreaea nivalis can have capsules with two or four valves. There is always one capsule on each fruiting plant.[3]

Distribution

Andreaea nivalis grows on wet acidic rocks, outcrops, and rocky areas,[5] at medium to high elevations. It can be found in Greenland, Japan, Spain, Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington.[2] It has also been found in Poland and Spain.[6][7] It is native to North America, Alaska, the UK, and Norway.[8]

Reproduction

Andreaea nivalis is dioicous, which means its gametophytes only produce either sperm or eggs.[2] Its perichaetial leaves, which enclose the moss's archegonia, reach to the top of the moss's capsules.[3]

Conservation

Andreaea nivalis is near threatened on the IUCN red list. The main threats to this species are drought and global warming. Its population is currently decreasing. The IUCN has recommended land and water protection to conserve this species, and says that research is needed to monitor Andreaea nivalis's population trends.[5]

References
  1. "Andreaea nivalis: Snow rock-moss | NBN Atlas". species.nbnatlas.org. NBN Atlas. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. "Andreaea nivalis". efloras.org. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. Holzinger, John (November 1924). "Andreaea nivalis Baileyi n. var". The Bryologist. 27 (6): 90–92. doi:10.2307/3238180. JSTOR 3238180. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. North American Flora (1913 ed.). New York Botanical Garden. 1905. p. 39.
  5. "Andreaea nivalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. Fudali, Ewa; Kucera, Jan (18 March 2002). "Andreaea Nivalis (Andreaeaceae, musci) new to the Karkonosze Mts (SW Poland)" (PDF). Polish Botanical Journal. 47 (1): 45–47. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  7. Luceño, Modesto; Cerrejón, Carlos; Guerra-Cárdenas, Samuel; Márquez-Corro, José; Pineda-Labella, Víctor; Martín-Bravo, Santiago; Infante, Marta; Muñoz, Jesús (1 July 2017). "A Contribution to the Knowledge of Bryophytes from Sierra de Gredos (Central Spain) including a Reevaluation of Their National Conservation Status". Cryptogamie, Bryologie. 38 (3): 281–302. doi:10.7872/cryb/v38.iss3.2017.281. S2CID 90048945. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  8. "Andreaea moss". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
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