Re: moss and liverwort names

["Tomoko Schum" <tomokoschum at knology_net>]

Stephan,

My Japanese plant ID book (Water picture book
to enjoy with Aquarium" by Pisces) has two
more mosses listed:  Fissidens japonicus and
Ricciocarpus natans.  Fissidens japonica is a
very beautiful moss and grows naturally in
Japan and Taiwan hanging on rocks both above
and in water in clear mountain steams.
Ricciocarpus natans is cosmopolitan.  This
one is a floating type that looks like a
collection of small gingko tree leaves.  I
can scan these pictures in the book tomorrow
along with that of Riccardia chamedryfolia
and send them to you if you'd like.

The Pisces book does identify the South
American Willow Moss as Vesicularia sp.
However, it lists its origin as unknown.  The
author of the book actually thinks that the
moss released by Tropica might be actually
Riccardia chamedryfolia, although the
pictures of the moss in TAG looks much closer
to Pellia endiviaefolia.

Tomoko