[Holy Samosa]

I once read that Java Fern can revert to a moss-like form in certain conditions, but I can't find this mentioned by any authoritative source.

My tank once had a beautiful mat of moss form on driftwood I had planted with Java Ferns. This moss was distinctly different than the Java Moss I had planted in the same tank. I'm just wondering if this was the Java Fern or I had picked up a tiny bit of mystery moss somewhere...

thanks!
Jeremy

 

[Wasserpest]

Never heard of that. Ferns go through several stages in their life cycle, not sure if you read about that (prothallia) somewhere.

You could separate the "mystery moss" and grow it out to see what it turns into.

 

[Holy Samosa]

Sheesh, wish I had known that years ago. The tank is about to be torn down and renovated after being neglected for years and the plants and moss are kind of a mess. I think I can probably pull out a few fronds of what is likely the mystery moss and grow it out in new and improved conditions.

 

[A Hill]

Its probably just a moss that hitch-hiked with the wood or Java Ferns and when the ferns died you saw the moss again.

With that said, there as said above there are several different stages of reproduction in ferns. For example süßwassertang is actually not a moss at all but the Loma Fern's gametophyte.

-Andrew