If you've ever walked across a damp, muddy open field and seen tiny stems sticking out of the ground, you may have come across Discelium nudum (Dickson) Bridel - also known as the naked flag moss. This fascinating little pioneer bryophyte is unique in many ways: it's the only species in its genus and family, and it has a highly specialised way of growing (Flora of North America Editorial Committee, n.d.).
Unlike most mosses, Discelium nudum spends much of its life in an almost invisible state, existing as a persistent protonema - a filamentous structure from which new moss shoots develop. When it finally becomes visible, it forms tiny bud-like gametophytes, each less than a millimetre in size. In contrast, the sporophytes of Discelium nudum are long and slender, like stalks that arch horizontally. These capsules ripen in early spring, which is the best time to see the species (British Bryological Society, n.d.).
British Bryological Society. (n.d.). Discelium nudum. Retrieved March 30, 2025, from https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/learning/species-finder/discelium-nudum/
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (n.d.). Discelium nudum. In Flora of North America (Vol. 27, p. 201). Retrieved March 30, 2025, from https://floranorthamerica.org/Discelium_nudum