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NZ Plants
Andreaea species - rock moss, granite moss
Family: Andreaeaceae
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Habitat
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Young colonies on basalt rock
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Dense mat of older colonies
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Sectional view of a mat of plants with moribund lower shoots impregnated with silt (brown) and leafy upper stems (red)
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Sectional view, detail of closely spaced shoots
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A. acutifolia, shoot tip with leaves
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A. acutifolia, sporophyte with stalk (seta) and capsule that is begining to open by splitting longitidinally
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A. acutifolia, continued splitting of the capsule creates four segments (valves)
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In the fully open capsule, the capsule valves are widely separated but remain attached at their tips and base.
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Andreaea plants form reddish-brown to black cushions or mats of tightly packed stems with tiny leaves. Capsules are found among the surface leaves and are unusual in that they open by splitting lengthwise into four equal valves.
Found on exposed rock or soil in alpine areas throughout New Zealand.
