The Moss Manual / Taxon entry
Fissidens berteroi
Mt Glorious Fissidens
A soft, spreading fissident moss with relaxed, fan-shaped fronds and clean, flattened growth.
Fissidens
Colony photograph
Image to be added
Greg Walker
View original colony photograph ↗01 / What you’ll see
At a glance
Loose, spreading fronds form soft fans rather than tight clumps. Shoots lie mostly flat, with leaves in two clear rows. Fronds spread outward and gently overlap, creating a layered, feathery appearance. The cultivated underwater growth is flexible and open rather than stiff or compact.
Growth habit
Spreading, fan-forming; shoots mostly flat, with gently overlapping fronds.
Growth environment
Submerged
Texture & density
Soft, flexible and open.
Branch geometry
Leaf posture
Appressed; leaves lie close to the stem.
02 / Conditions in cultivation
Parameters
Cultivation guidance from the documented observations; see the notes for context.
Temperature
10
–
24
°C
pH
5
–
6.5
GH
0
–
6
°dGH
KH
0
–
4
°dKH
Lighting
Low to moderate
CO₂
Not required
Flow
Gentle to moderate
03 / In the glass box
Cultivation & care
Attach to rock or wood and allow the fronds to spread and fan naturally. Trim whole fronds rather than shaving the colony surface. Maintain stable lighting and clean water. Expect fan expansion over time rather than rapid carpeting.
The source describes the species as primarily riparian, with submersion possible in cool, well-oxygenated conditions. This specimen is documented as a fully submerged cultivated form.
04 / Under the microscope
The Nerdery
Important, because it isn’t easy to find elsewhere.
Microscopy
The supplied microscopy notes describe appressed leaves in two planar ranks. The costa is weak and indistinct and ends well below the apex. Its apparent split or doubled outline in some views is attributed to overlapping lamina and attenuation, rather than a true forked costa.
Soft fan-shaped growth, short costa and planar leaf ranks support the author’s identification. The notes also discuss historical confusion of Australian material with Fissidens fontanus. No microscopy objective or observation date is specified.
Frond microscopy
Image to be added
Leaf microscopy
Image to be added
Leaf arrangement
Distichous and complanate
Leaf shape
Costa
Short / indistinct
Cell notes
Irregularly polygonal/hexagonal lamina cells. Margins essentially entire, without a strong border. Vaginant laminae extend a substantial portion of leaf length and appear near-closed.
05 / Current assessment
Nerd Verdict
Fissidens berteroi
High
The author identifies this specimen as Fissidens berteroi, expressed as a fully submerged cultivated form. The assessment combines its soft, fan-forming and sprawling habit with a weak, short costa ending well below the apex, planar leaf ranks and tessellated lamina cells.
How identifications are assessed
Identifications are assessed against biological reports and taxonomic descriptions, alongside specimen observations and microscopy. Sources are provided where possible. Independent verification is explicitly flagged where available.
Identification status
Confident ID (non-peer reviewed)
Independent verification
No
06 / Evidence & attribution
References & record updates
Source: Greg Walker, The Moss Manual — Fissidens berteroi ‘Mt Glorious’, supplied specimen PDF. The document refers to published descriptions but does not include a bibliography. Supporting references can be added as they become available.