Here are some pictures of the Moss in question. I was told it was Xmas Moss by the person I got it from. So is it Java Moss, Willow Moss or can it be Xmas Moss?
What type of Moss do I have?
- Thread starter Ken91gsx
- Start date
Thank for the reply
So does the Xmas Moss share the same name Vesicularia sp. as Java Moss or Fontinalis sp. Willow Moss?
So does the Xmas Moss share the same name Vesicularia sp. as Java Moss or Fontinalis sp. Willow Moss?
More picture of the main Moss tank
Thanks Richer,
Here are more pictures of my Moss in my 65 gal Datnioides plant tank.
Here you like the picture there is more in my gallery at:
My Aquatic Gallery
Thanks Richer,
Here are more pictures of my Moss in my 65 gal Datnioides plant tank.
Here you like the picture there is more in my gallery at:
My Aquatic Gallery
I started out with 3 strands that looked exactly like the very triangular-shaped one in the pic. From those strands it grew into different clumps in different tanks, all of which look different and none of which look anything like the original anymore.
I'm suspicious that some of the different species of moss are just different growing patterns of the same one. When I change the conditions it takes on a different look... has anyone made a definitive classification of these mosses yet? I remember a group on APD was trying to do so a while back but I stopped following the list for a while...
I'm suspicious that some of the different species of moss are just different growing patterns of the same one. When I change the conditions it takes on a different look... has anyone made a definitive classification of these mosses yet? I remember a group on APD was trying to do so a while back but I stopped following the list for a while...
Ken91gsx that is gorgeous moss! How in the world do you keep it so short, you must be trimming it constantly! I don't even have ideal plant conditions (from what I've read on this board) and I can't keep up with trimming my moss.
Here is a page you might find interesting to read, it is entitled "Differentiating Christmas from Java".
http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.200108/msg00733.html
I guess the 'key' is in the little spores you have pictured. As keely said -quote- When I change the conditions it takes on a different look. -unquote- The moss I have is all from the same source, yet in one tank it grows the spores, and in the others, it doesn't.
Here is a page you might find interesting to read, it is entitled "Differentiating Christmas from Java".
http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.200108/msg00733.html
I guess the 'key' is in the little spores you have pictured. As keely said -quote- When I change the conditions it takes on a different look. -unquote- The moss I have is all from the same source, yet in one tank it grows the spores, and in the others, it doesn't.
Much as I enjoy reading James Purchase and Loh Kwek Leong, that article wasn't very illuminating.
LKL says, "One way to differentiate Christmas from Java would be to look for spores. I'm not sure if that is what they are called but I'm referring to the little brown stalks with something like a bud at the end of it. It looks like a comma. Christmas moss will usually have some such spores but I have never seen them on Java. Christmas moss grown emmersed will produce many spores."
Which would make virtually ALL moss I've ever seen here in southern Ontario Christmas moss, since I've rarely seen any without spores, and any I got without spores produced spores readily.
James says "Since mosses only develop these structures when grown emersed, folks with mosses growing entirely submerged may never see them." Er... if I had a camera I would be happy to show all the 3 submerged clumps in one tank which repeatedly sprout the structures entirely submerged. They've never been emersed since I got them.
I'm not kidding when I say one of my clumps of long, straggly threads, which James describes as Java moss, originated as one single piece which was identical to the Christmas tree shaped piece in the first photo -- triangular growth of tightly spaced branches.
I have not yet seen a visual method of identifying Java moss versus Christmas moss which doesn't run afoul of what I see in my own tanks, because the moss morphs into very different growth patterns depending on where I put it.
I'm quite interested in hearing from anyone who can verify that these are different species, what the scientific name of Christmas moss would be, and a surefire way of identifying it.
Until then, I call it all Java moss.
LKL says, "One way to differentiate Christmas from Java would be to look for spores. I'm not sure if that is what they are called but I'm referring to the little brown stalks with something like a bud at the end of it. It looks like a comma. Christmas moss will usually have some such spores but I have never seen them on Java. Christmas moss grown emmersed will produce many spores."
Which would make virtually ALL moss I've ever seen here in southern Ontario Christmas moss, since I've rarely seen any without spores, and any I got without spores produced spores readily.
James says "Since mosses only develop these structures when grown emersed, folks with mosses growing entirely submerged may never see them." Er... if I had a camera I would be happy to show all the 3 submerged clumps in one tank which repeatedly sprout the structures entirely submerged. They've never been emersed since I got them.
I'm not kidding when I say one of my clumps of long, straggly threads, which James describes as Java moss, originated as one single piece which was identical to the Christmas tree shaped piece in the first photo -- triangular growth of tightly spaced branches.
I have not yet seen a visual method of identifying Java moss versus Christmas moss which doesn't run afoul of what I see in my own tanks, because the moss morphs into very different growth patterns depending on where I put it.
I'm quite interested in hearing from anyone who can verify that these are different species, what the scientific name of Christmas moss would be, and a surefire way of identifying it.
Until then, I call it all Java moss.
Java Moss
Thanks for the info Keely & Kveeti on the Moss. The spores that they are referring to might not be the ones in my picture. By spores they might mean buds on the tip of each new growth. On the end of every new growth is a very light green bud. That might be what they mean by spores.
The other question is how does Willow moss look like?
Thanks for the info Keely & Kveeti on the Moss. The spores that they are referring to might not be the ones in my picture. By spores they might mean buds on the tip of each new growth. On the end of every new growth is a very light green bud. That might be what they mean by spores.
The other question is how does Willow moss look like?
I'm pretty sure the spores didn't refer to the light green growing tips... the description of the stalk with the bulb on the end like a comma would be hard to confuse with new growth I think.
Willow moss usually refers to Fontinalis species, particularly F. antipyretica. Judging by the name "antipyretica" you should be able to make a nice fever-reducing drink from it too Some grow in cold water and don't do well at tropical temperatures.
Haven't seen any real agreement anywhere on whether Christmas moss is a Fontinalis or a Vesicularia species.
Willow moss usually refers to Fontinalis species, particularly F. antipyretica. Judging by the name "antipyretica" you should be able to make a nice fever-reducing drink from it too
Some grow in cold water and don't do well at tropical temperatures.Haven't seen any real agreement anywhere on whether Christmas moss is a Fontinalis or a Vesicularia species.
