Fissidens perangustus
Common names
moss
Biostatus
Native
Current conservation status
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2025 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: S?O
Category
Non-vascular
Structural class
Mosses
Detailed description
Plants to 4 mm long, yellow-green, densely gregarious. Stems simple, with rhizoids at base only. Leaves in 8–12 pairs, distant, when moist slightly falcate, patent, when dry lightly twisted, lanceolate, 0.60–0.80 x 0.16–0.18 mm; apex acute; laminae unistratose; vaginant lamina 2/3 of leaf length, closed, but with minor half often invaginated near its apex; dorsal lamina tapered to leaf base, with border adhering to nerve in proximal part; margins entire; marginal cells on all laminae distinct in 2–4 rows, narrow, thick-walled and prosenchymatous, forming well-defined borders which fail at the leaf apex; cells of apical and dorsal laminae quadrate to irregularly hexagonal, smooth, non-bulging, thin-walled, (7.5–)9–14(-15) x (6–)7-9(–10) µm. Costa subpercurrent. Autoicous. Perigonia bulbiform at base of female shoot. Perichaetia terminal; perichaetial leaves longer than vegetative. Setae straw-coloured to orange-brown, stiff, 2-3 mm; capsules erect to inclined, slightly asymmetric, 0.50–0.75 mm, short-rectangular; operculum conic-rostellate, ½ length of theca. Peristome of ‘bryoides-type’; teeth 48-57 µm wide at base. Calyptra smooth, cucullate. Spores 19–25 µm.
Similar taxa
The species is close to F. curvatus, but differs in a number of features, including the larger spores, and shorter beak on the operculum. The costa and border become red with age. The habitat may also differ, with F. perangustus occurring in moister sites.
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island (Ahipara, Kaihu Valley, Waitakere Ranges). Also present in eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)
Habitat
Lowland. In riparian forest on the margins of streams in sites that are prone to periodic inundation through flooding. New Zealand specimens have been gathered from basalt, sandstone and silt encased willow (Salix fragilis) trunks in sluggishly flowing streams.
Substrate details
Terricolous and Saxicolous.
Threats
Fissidens perangustus is so far known from only three gatherings all made from the west coast of the northern North Island, in lowland riparian forest remnants. This species seems to be genuinely scarce and it may be threatened. However, as it is easily confused with Fissidens curvatus which is widespread and common it is possible that F. perangustus has been overlooked. Further survey is needed to ascertain its exact conservation status in New Zealand. Beever & Stone (1999) suggest that this species is very uncommon in Australia
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Fruiting
Sporophytes are present in most New Zealand gatherings
Other information
Etymology
fissidens: From the Latin fissio ‘fission’ and dens ‘tooth, prong’ meaning split tooth and referring to shape of the lamina.
Previous conservation statuses
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2014 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: S?O
2010 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: S?O
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Beever, J.E.; I.G. Stone 1999: Studies of Fissidens (Bryophyta: Musci): new taxa and new records for New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 643-657.
Beever, J. Malcolm, B.; Malcolm, N. 2002: The moss genus Fissidens in New Zealand – an illustrated key. Nelson, Micro-Optics Press.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (11 October 2011). Description adapted from Beever et al (2002) by J.E. Beever.