''Leptodictyum riparium'', commonly known as Kneiff's feathermoss,
streamside leptodictyum moss, or knapwort,
is a species of moss of cosmopolitan distribution. The only places it is not found are the
Pacific Islands
Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...
and
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
It is commonly found growing in the lakes and rivers of Minnesota and is also present in
Mexico,
Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...
, the
Bahamas,
Cuba,
Jamaica,
Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
, the
Dominican Republic,
Venezuela,
Peru and
Brazil.
This moss has several different forms and can grow up to 30 cm. Its ovate leaves, which are in two rows, are often pointed at their apex.
''Leptodictyum riparium'' has been found in an acidic mining lake and can live at a pH down to 1.6 in volcanic craters. It was once found with ''
Eleocharis acicularis'' at a Canadian mining lake. It is known to contain high levels of
phosphate and is an easy to grow moss that is also used in aquariums. It has been reported that ''L. riparium'' tolerates a wide range of nutrient conditions and its population increases as
ammonia increases.
''Leptodictyum riparium'' is known to be able to use
artificial light to grow in places which are otherwise devoid of natural light, such as
Crystal Cave in
Wisconsin.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q11892624
Amblystegiaceae