__NOTOC__ ''Neomacounia nitida'', or Macoun's shining moss, is an extinct

moss Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hor ...

that was found only in a small area of Ontario, and the sole species in the genus ''Neomacounia''.

Biology

Macoun's shining moss was a large bryophyte with long greenish-brown tufts. The tufts were shiny and up to 6 cm long. The moss was hermaphroditic and capable of fertilizing itself. The plant was an

epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

. It lived near the base of tree trunks of various species of elm and cedar that grew in swampy areas. The only known location where this species occurred was in three locales near Belleville, Ontario.Macoun's Shining Moss factsheet
accessed October 16, 2006

Taxonomy

The species was originally described as ''Forsstroemia nitida''. In 1974, it was reclassified in the monotypic genus ''Neomacounia''. Not all bryologists accept that it is in a monotypic genus, or that it should be placed in the family

Neckeraceae Neckeraceae is a moss family in the order Hypnales. There are about 200 species native to temperate and tropical regions. Most grow on rocks, or other plants. Description Members of the family are usually large and glossy plants with creeping st ...

. Most recent publications accept the current classification of Macoun's shining moss. The common name honours John Macoun (1831–1920), who was an Irish-born Canadian naturalist.

Extinction

The area where the samples were found was clear-cut for economic purposes between 1864 and 1892, implying that the species became extinct due to habitat loss during that time. Searches and surveys looking for the species were conducted in 1972 and 2001. They failed to find any evidence for the species' continued existence. This species is the only known endemic Canadian plant to become extinct since the 16th century.Extinct organisms on the ''Species at Risk Act''
accessed October 16, 2006

Specimens

All known samples of ''N. nitida'' were from three collections taken between 1862 and 1864. At least two of the collections were made by John Macoun. As Macoun had mislabelled other samples before, some doubt exists about from where they were taken.

References

External links

IUCN Red List profile of ''Neomacounia nitida''
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q17285967, from2=Q3338191 Neckeraceae Flora of Ontario Extinct flora of North America Monotypic moss genera Plant extinctions since 1500