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NZ Plants
Physcomitrium pyriforme
Family Funariaceae
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Plants
L Jensen
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Shoot from above
L Jensen
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Shoot, side view
L Jensen
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Detached leaf
L Jensen
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Leaf margin
L Jensen
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Young sporophyte with calyptra covering the immature capsule
L Jensen
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Enlarging capsule covered by torn calyptra
L Jensen
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Capsule with operculum lid
L Jensen
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Maturing capsule
L Jensen
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Mature capsule with operculum lid being shed
L Jensen
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Fully open capsule with spores
L Jensen
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Physcomitrium pyriforme is a small to medium sized, bright green moss forming dense mats on moist ground. Leaves are oblong-ovate with acute tips, spreading when moist and inrolled and somewhat contorted when dry. A pear-shaped (pyriform) erect capsule is born at the end of a 2-7 mm long seta (stalk). The calyptra splits longitudinally and the operculum lid is shed to expose a mouth lacking peristome teeth.
Widespread in New Zealand.
