Ceratodon purpureus

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Ceratodon purpureus

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Bryophyta
Class:	Bryopsida
Subclass:	Dicranidae
Order:	Dicranales
Family:	Ditrichaceae
Genus:	Ceratodon
Species:	C. purpureus

Binomial name

Ceratodon purpureus
(Hedw.) Brid.

Synonyms

Ceratodon dimorphus
Mielichhoferia recurvifolia.

Ceratodon purpureus is a dioecious moss with a color ranging from yellow-green to red. The height amounts to 3 centimeters. It is found worldwide, mainly in urban areas and next to roads on dry sand soils. Its common names include redshank, fire moss, and purple horn toothed moss.

The short leaves are hairy and spread out with sufficient moisture. The moss reproduces generatively with spores and vegetatively through protonemata. The sporangia are in an upright position on a long stem. The spores sprout in two phases. First they swell, then they spread out. The spores can remain able to sprout for over 16 years.