As an off-shoot of the moss exchange program, this thread is for profiles of the various mosses (and other bryophytes and algae) available in Aus. Over time this should become a one stop shop for info on ID, growing conditions, ect.

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Lisapie is organising the profiles so please contact her (Lisa) if you would like to get involved.

Subwassertang

Common Name: Subwassertang

Common Synonyms: Süßwassertang, Susswassertang, Süsswassertang

Scientific Name: Lomariopsis sp. (cf. lineata)

Author: N/A

Erroneous Names: Round Pellia (due to its initial misidentification as Pellia endiviifolia)

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:

Plantae

Division:

Moniliformopses

Class:

Polypodiopsida

Order:

Polypodiales

Family:

Lomariopsidaceae

Genus:

Lomariopsis

Species:

Undetermined

Origin: Varied (Can be found in Australia)

Temp: 15 - 30C

PH: 5.0 - 9.0

KH: Soft - Hard

Lighting: Low - High

CO2: Not Required

Growth Rate: Fast

Difficulty: Very Easy

Propagation: Fragmentation

Description

Subwassertang is the gametophyte form of a species of Lomariopsis. The name means "freshwater seaweed" in German and it’s appearance resembles seaweed, although like many mosses and liverworts it’s appearance differs under various conditions.

Identification

It can be distinguished from Pellia (Monosolénium ténerum) by its lack of midrib (central vein) and oil bodies (small light points in the tissue), and its texture. Subwassertang has a more crunchy cellophane type feel to it and is very thin, whereas Pellia has more of a soft smooth feel and is thicker.

Growth

Subwassertang grows best when attached to hardscape elements such as driftwood and rocks. Over time it will attach itself to the hardscape, but will initially need to be tied with thread, or attached with superglue. Free floating pieces have a tendency to attach to whatever they become lodged in, including substrate. Over time Subwassertang will grow outwards into a rounded cloud or pillow shape.

Propagation

Propagation is achieved by cutting or simply tearing a small portion from an existing plant and then reattaching it in another location.

Morphology

“The thallus of the alleged aquatic gametophyte of Lomariopsis is ribbon-shaped, profusely branched, and onecell thick throughout, without a midrib or multicellular cushion. Rhizoids are colorless, mostly borne as marginal clusters. It grows indeterminately with active meristematic cells at the rounded apex (Fig. 1c). There are no gemmae, although small lateral branches sometimes detach from the thallus and develop as new individuals. Archegonia and three-celled antheridia are sparsely formed. These characters were also observed in the gametophytes of Lomariopsis spectabilis found in Taiwan (Fig. 1d), although they do not exactly match the strap-shaped Lomariopsis gametophytes described and illustrated by Atkinson (1973). No associated sporophyte of the Sußwassertang under study has ever been observed.â€[1]

Sources [1-5]

1.Li F-W, Tan B, Buchbender V, Moran R, Rouhan G, Wang C-N, Quandt D: Identifying a mysterious aquatic fern gametophyte. Plant Syst Evol 2009, 281(1-4):77-86.

2.Nayar BK, Kaur S: Gametophytes of homosporous ferns. Bot Rev 1971, 37(3):295-396.

3.Rouhan G, Garrison Hanks J, McClelland D, Moran R: Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the fern genus Lomariopsis (Lomariopsidaceae). Brittonia 2007, 59(2):115-128.

4.It's Not What You Think [http://coo.fieldofscience.com/2009/07/its-not-what-you-think.html]

5.Reski R: Development, genetics and molecular biology of mosses. Botanica Acta 1998, 111(1):1-15.