Habitat

This moss can be commonly found in open, inorganic, acidic soil of disturbed banks and trail margins, and along water courses.

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Gametophyte

Overall structure:

 

This species forms various looking turfs. They are small and dark-green to wine-red colored and rigid.

 

 

 

Leaf Structure:

O. aligerum has divergent leaves when humid and imbricate ( leaves lying close to the stem, pointing toward the apex) when dry. They are lanceolate, slightly sheathing at the base, and have rigid-like lamellae that are found on both surfaces of the leaf.

 

 

 

Here is a closer look at the slightly wavy lamellae of O. aligerum.

 

 

 

 

Male gametophyte:

The perigonial plants tend to be in separate colonies. Perigonial leaves are usually triangular-ovate and form rosettes, which function as a splash-cup mechanism to aid in the sperm dispersal.

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Sporophyte

 Sporangium:

 

The sporophytes of O. aligerum are dark brown when they are mature.

 

 

 

 

Seta:

The seta of this species is straight and reddish-brown.