Ouch

[Tug]

Just ordered some Tortula rural is (or star moss as they were calling it). After reading up on it, after the fact, I may have purchased a plant that will likely die after three months when grown submersed. Has anyone grown this plant and/or willing to tell it's story?

I thought I was getting some divergent form of Fissidens, not. :numbness:

edit - I might just plant this stuff in with the house plants and try to think of something else.
Any suggestions?

 

[ShadowMac]

where did you get it? I've tried a few of those "exotic" or "hard to find" mosses with no luck whatsoever. It didn't arrive in good shape for the most part, so I was behind there.

Do you have a picture?

 

[Tug]

Aquatic Magic. I remember getting plants from them off eBay and they arrived in great shape. I'm not sure why they would be selling this if it's not truly aquatic, other then t's their best seller.

http://www.aqmagic.com/moss/star-moss-p-205.html

 

[Biollante]

Magic It Is!

Hi,

Magic it is; converting a xerophytic moss to cash!
As with all magic, at least according to Mr. Gold/ Rumpelstiltskin, it comes at a price.

Yes keeping Tortula ruralis as a potted plant is a good idea, kept wet, it is a nice pleasant green plant, almost sparkles, dry it is almost desert brush-like, twisted and knurly.

Depending on the moisture, it can look like two or three completely different plants.

Biollante

 

[nipat]

[VERY upset after my long text got lost via that log-in warning here.
I noticed during typing that the text was auto-saved. Where the heck is it now?
I have to type it again.]

Star moss is common here in planted tanks in Thailand.
There are several types but the most common is Hyophila involuta
(called Moss Dao Thai or Thai star moss here as it can be found at waterfalls
in Thailand).

Some sources say Hyophila involuta is the same as Tortula ruralis.
Some other sources disagree.

Here is a post from an enthusiasm for aquatic moss. She was testing several types of star moss,
to see which one could be grown submersed.

http://aqua.c1ub.net/forum/index.php?topic=88175.msg1247102#msg1247102

Some moss in the pictures had been submersed for about a year.

 

[ShadowMac]

it would be interesting if you could get it to grow submerged. I have tried a number of the mosses from aquamagic and have never been able to get them to grow.

 

[Biollante]

Depends On The Water... Lots of Help I Know

Hi,

I am reasonably sure Hyophila involuta is not Tortula ruralis, they are recognized as separate species.

Tortula ruralis will have a small bristle (white) coming out of each point of the star.

Hyophila involuta, is smoother and will not survive in dry conditions.

It is hard to be sure from photos, but the Aquatic Magic looks “pointy” though I cannot see any bristles, which makes me think it is actually Tortula ruralis.

The picture Nipat provided has the more rounded form and is good enough to see there are no bristles, which makes me think it is Hyophila involuta. The only problem I have is the first picture on the website Nipat references has pointy leaves and white bristles.:numbness: The rest of the photos are consistent with what I understand Hyophila involuta to be, submersed anyway.

The problem with mosses such as Tortula ruralis is that they can look so very different depending on moisture availability. I have seen this, in New Mexico where I would have identified Tortula ruralis as three different plants all within a couple of meters, but an “expert” said they were indeed all Tortula ruralis.

Biollante

 

[nipat]

Hi,

I am reasonably sure Hyophila involuta is not Tortula ruralis, they are recognized as separate species.

Tortula ruralis will have a small bristle (white) coming out of each point of the star.

Hyophila involuta, is smoother and will not survive in dry conditions.

It is hard to be sure from photos, but the Aquatic Magic looks “pointy” though I cannot see any bristles, which makes me think it is actually Tortula ruralis.

The picture Nipat provided has the more rounded form and is good enough to see there are no bristles, which makes me think it is Hyophila involuta. The only problem I have is the first picture on the website Nipat references has pointy leaves and white bristles.:numbness: The rest of the photos are consistent with what I understand Hyophila involuta to be, submersed anyway.

The first picture, this one?

She said she didn't know scientific name of this moss which looked similar to and tended to
be found in the same place with Hyophila involuta.
(Problem solved )

This is the picture of this same unknown moss after being submersed for 1 month.
It quickly became elongated, unlike Hyophila involuta.

 

[Biollante]

Good Old Tug

Hi Nipat, Tug, All,

That is the picture, I have no idea what that may be.

I am confident in my information regarding Tortula ruralis.

If there Is a university in the area, it may be worth a call to see if anyone knows what it might be.

Perhaps we could persuade Tug to grow whatever it is out a bit in wet soil when he has a decent patch affix it to some netting and grow it half-in, half-out and see what happens.

• Of course were he to grow a significant bit he could forward our knowledge by growing it in several different conditions.:glee::encouragement:

Biollante

 

[ShadowMac]

and if he were to be successful growing it submerged he could forward on not only his knowledge but his moss

 

[Tug]

Genius, you all.

Well alright. Most of it's going with a potted plant upstairs - some I'll dry out and try smoking in my pipe.
I should have a little left over to place in the tank - why not give it a go.

 

[Biollante]

Have “We” Found A Substitute for a Certain Mexican Ditch Weed?

Hi Tug,

Well... What have "we" learned?

Aside from never listening to evil plant monsters that is.

Biollante

 

[Tug]

I'll try and get some pictures up at some point. One thing I learned is that plants take a long time when coming from Singapore. I have them growing on a platform I made that stays at the waters surface. The shrimp use it - after I added 5 young Kribensis I bought at an auction. That was a sight to see. Talk about popcorn shrimp. Once those fish arrived the RCS were very, very active. Popping around everywhere. Kind of funny in a sick sort of way.

What ever happens with the moss, I feel I made out alright by purchasing Aquatic Magic's stainless-steel bent-tip scissors and tweezer set for $22.95 with free shipping on everything due to a special promotional offer.

 

[Biollante]

The RCS Are Checking their Frequent Flyer Miles

Hi Tug,

Those Kribs are probably texting their friends about how great the food is at Tugs’s Diner .

Biollante

 

[Tug]

Star's resort and moss spa.

Newly arrived moss in a neat little plastic wire cage.

12 hours after planting with a potted plant.
Amazing recovery after being left to dry for 10 days after they arrived.

Some plants are resting at the bottom of the aquarium still in their cages.
Here is the RCS moss platform.

At the airport bar - keeping an eye out for the Krib.