Buxbaumia minakatae Okam. Is a member of the Buxbaumiaceae often referred to as the 'bug mosses'. The Buxbaumiaceae family is composed of 14 species with unique morphological characters setting them apart from other bryophytes. The 'bug mosses' are so named for having a reduced gametophyte with a large bug shaped gametophyte. Buxbaumia minakatae is considered and endangered species in the state of Ohio and draining of its habitat is the greatest threat to this particular species.

Range
Has been collected from Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Vermont, and Virginia.

Life History
B. minakatae is considered an ephemeral, producing sporophytes only for a few weeks from August to October in Ohio.

Sporophyte
Capsules perched on seta. Setae range from 3-10 mm in overall length with lancet-cylindrical capsule.

Gametophyte
The gametophyte of B. minakatae is highly reduced like in all “bug mosses”. Considered a pleurocarpous moss forming small clusters.

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Order: Buxbaumiales
Family: Buxbaumiaceae
Genus: Buxbaumia
Species: Buxbaumia minakatae

Cautions B. minakatae is classified as an endangered species in the state of Ohio. Collect only 2-3 individuals after the spores have been released.

Literature Cited
Crum, H.A., Mosses of the Great Lakes Forest, 4th ed., University of Michigan: Ann Arbor, 2004, page 545.
Ohio Division of Natural Resources. Accessed 5/19/2008. www.dnr.state.oh.us.
United States Department of Agriculture. Accessed 5/19/2008. plants.usda.gov.

Written by Sam Drerup 2008