Calliergon giganteum, the giant spearmoss,[1] giant calliergon moss,[2] or arctic moss, is an aquatic plant found on lake beds in tundra regions. It has no wood stems or flowers, and has small rootlets instead of roots.
| Calliergon giganteum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Bryophyta |
| Class: | Bryopsida |
| Subclass: | Bryidae |
| Order: | Hypnales |
| Family: | Calliergonaceae |
| Genus: | Calliergon |
| Species: | C. giganteum
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| Binomial name | |
| Calliergon giganteum (Schimp.) Kindb.
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Calliergon giganteum survives in the cold climate by storing nutrients to be used in the formation of new leaves in the spring. It is one of about 2000 plant species on the tundra, most of which are mosses and lichens. The plant is eaten by migrating animals such as birds. The ground cover of Calliergon giganteum in the arctic has a warming effect which other plants benefit from.
"Calliergon giganteum" grows to be about 8 cm tall.
Calliergon giganteum prefers hydric environments, growing best in wet and humid conditions. For photosynthesis, the optimum water content is 1500-1700% of the moss's dry weight.[3]
References
edit- ^ Edwards, Sean R. (2012). English Names for British Bryophytes. British Bryological Society Special Volume. Vol. 5 (4 ed.). Wootton, Northampton: British Bryological Society. ISBN 978-0-9561310-2-7. ISSN 0268-8034.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Calliergon giganteum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ Ueno, Takeshi; Kanda, Hiroshi (2006). "Photosynthetic response of the arctic semi-aquatic moss Calliergon giganteum to water content". Aquatic Botany. 85 (3): 241–243. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2006.03.010. ISSN 0304-3770.
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