timebomb

Hi, everyone,

I finally managed to log in. Hurray!! I think I must have tried a hundred times already. Many thanks to Art for activating my account.

For my first post, I like to appeal to everyone here to help me find Malesian Java Moss that has capsules. The word "Malesia" refers to the geographic area from Sumatra island in the West to Papua New Guinea in the east. It encompasses countries like Malaysia, the whole of Indonesia and the Philippines. If you live anywhere in the Malesian region, I appeal to you to take a close look at the Java Moss found in your tanks or in your local fish shops. If you can find capsules growing among them, please send a sample to me and I will, in return, send you Erect or Christmas Moss.

We have lots of Java Moss in Singapore but for some strange reason, they don't throw out capsules. Capsules are the bud-like things at the end of brown stalks. They look like commas. Capsules hold the spores which are like the seeds of flowering plants. Mosses propagate vegetatively but they can also reproduce themselves sexually through fertilization.

To confirm the true identity of the Java Moss, we need the capsules. If you can find capsules in your Java Moss, you would be doing a great service to scientific research if you send them to me. Thank you.

Loh K L

MiamiAG

Timebomb,

Glad you are able to post. Sorry that it took so long.

I know there is a lot of research going on in Singapore on java moss. I'm fascinated as I always just thought that Vesicularia dubyana was a rather simple plant. I had no idea there were so many variations and taxanomic (is that a word?) issues.

It is also fascinating that the moss in Singapore doesn't reproduce via seed? Does this mean that someone introduced this species into Singapore using infertile plants?

Thanks for supporting APC!

timebomb

It isn't just Java Moss that we're researching, Art. We also in the midst of discovering the true identities of the other mosses like Christmas, Erect, Singapore, Taiwan, Willow and Weeping Moss. But the Java Moss is the tough one as without the fruiting specimens (capsules), the identity cannot be confirmed with certainty. We're pretty sure about the genus but the species remains a mystery.

Probably so but I can't say for sure as I wasn't watching, not when the moss was first introduced to Singapore anyway But I have kept Java Moss for many years and has never seen a capsule.

Loh K L

shannon

Hi Timebomb - and hello from sunny Arizona
I've had this moss for years, but no little pods. I have a few friends who keep it also, so I'll ask around for you. I have only recently heard about some of the other mosses you mentioned and would love to see pictures of them. Would it be possible for you to post pictures here of the mosses with thier names. I love mosses and ferns. Hope we can help you out with your research Good luck..... Shannon

timebomb

Hello, Shannon,

Best of wishes to you too from sunny Singapore

If you can find me some Java Moss with capsules, I will be eternally grateful . Someone who lives in the US of A sent me a Java Moss with capsules but unfortunately, it wasn't the same Java Moss found in the Malesian region. I'll take my chances though as the Java Mosses you and your friends are growing could possibly originate from Malesia.

I would love to show you the pictures or point you to the link but I'm afraid I will be breaking the rules here if I do that. There's a roundabout way you can find the pictures though. Just click on the little box that says (www) below my message and follow the leads. You'll be amazed.

LLoh K L

MiamiAG

Loh K L,

Please feel free to post pictures via your post or add them to our gallery to that everyone could benefit.

Also, feel free to refer people to your website.

timebomb

Thanks, Art. I don't want my actions to be miscontrued as trying to direct traffic from here to my own web site at www.killies.com so I was reluctant to provide the link Shannon requested. But if you say its okay, here's a picture of the moss known as "Weeping Moss". It's so called because the price will make you cry



Just kidding, of course. It's known as a Weeping Moss because it has the weeping look, just like Weeping Willows. As far as I know, this moss in still unavailable in the local fish shops and only Oriental Aquarium has them.
It's supposedly native to China and also a species of Vesicularia.

Loh K L

shannon

Hi Loh...

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. My computer is on the blink and I'm using my good friends right now Haven't found any capsules yet but I'm not giving up. That weeping moss you posted is the most beautiful moss I've ever seen Thank you Art for encouraging Loh Any more moss pics would be wonderful. I've never seen errect or Christmas moss. Thanks again Loh!!!

wicked_good_guppies

http://www.killies.com/forum/ loh's website has tons of pictures of erect and x-mas moss including others but here is another for great moss pics. http://www.nature-aquarium.com/xmas.htm

timebomb

That's okay, Shannon. I'm patiently waiting for some capsuled Java Moss. If you can find any, please let me know.

If you think Weeping Moss is lovely, take a look at this.



What's on the driftwood is Erect Moss and the backdrop is a Christmas Moss wall.

Loh K L