Habitat
B. argenteum is especially prevalent in disturbed areas or among high atmospheric pollution, as in urban environments. It dominates sidewalks, stone walls, bare soil, and is somewhat of a pest on the putting greens of golf courses, where turf grass researchers are investigating methods of its control (Cook 2001). Perhaps its prevalence here is due to the nitrophilic nature of the plant: its occurrence is well known among urine-soaked soils near kennels and Arctic inhabitations [and we can assume a fair amount of nitrates are applied to putting greens!] (Crum 1983). Genetic diversity within a population is reportedly quite high, primarily due to somatic mutations within the population, with some contribution by water-dispersed propagula (units of vegetative reproduction) from neighboring populations (Skotnicki, et al. 1999).

Gametophyte Appearance
The gametophyte form is relatively small (3-12mm), occurring in silvery tufts. The stems are erect and forked, with branch leaves closely overlapping and pressed around the stem. Leaves are 0.5-1.2mm long, broadly ovate with a pointed tip. Costae are slim, terminating below the apex. The upper leaf cells are hyaline (clear) and rhomboidal, while the lower cells are yellow with thicker walls, and the basal cells are squarrose or rectangular and reddish in color. Gametophytes of B. argenteum are dioicous, with male and female structures on separate individuals (Crum 1983).

Sporophyte Appearance
Capsules are pendulous, borne on red setae 8-20mm long. Capsules are oblong-cylindric, from a short red neck; the operculum is bluntly or acutely conic. Peristome teeth are present, brownish below and hyaline above. Spores are 10-15? (Crum 1983).

Literature Cited
Cook, Tom. 2001. Moss Control in Putting Greens. Accessed 5/16/01 at http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/turf/extension/moss.htm

Crum, Howard. 1983. Mosses of the Great Lakes Forest. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

Written by Andy Gaston
May 2001