''Mnium hornum'', also known by the common names horn calcareous moss or swan's-neck thyme-moss, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

moss Mosses are small, non-vascular plant, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic phylum, division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Wilhelm Philippe Schimper, Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryo ...

in the

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

'' Mnium''.

Description

The upright stems of swan's-neck thyme-moss are 2 to 4 cm tall. Leaves are 4mm to 8mm long, with a toothed border of long, narrow cells. The

vein Veins () are blood vessels in the circulatory system of humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are those of the pulmonary and feta ...

ends a slightly below the tip of the leaf. The lower part of the stem has small, narrow triangular leaves. Capsules are 5mm long, with a lid that narrows abruptly into a short point. The

seta In biology, setae (; seta ; ) are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms. Animal setae Protostomes Depending partly on their form and function, protostome setae may be called macrotrichia, chaetae, ...

is between 2.5 and 5 cm long.

Habitat

Swan's-neck thyme-moss is native to Europe and eastern North America. It is commonly found in damp woodland conditions, especially in acidic soil, such as oak-birch, beech and pine woodlands. It is found on the ground, logs, rocks, tree bases and along streams.

Uses

In 2012, researchers in Serbia found that ''Mnium hornum'' could be used as a potential source of

arachidonic acid Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is a polyunsaturated omega−6 fatty acid 20:4(ω−6), or 20:4(5,8,11,14). It is a precursor in the formation of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes. Together with omega−3 fatty acids an ...

References

Mniaceae Plants described in 1801 Taxa named by Johann Hedwig {{bryidae-stub