Tetraplodon mnioides (Hedw.) BSG

Japanese: マルダイゴケ（英語表記）Tetraplodon mnioides (Hedw.) B.S.G.

A moss with a unique ecology in the family Plommatiaceae. It is widely distributed in cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and rarely occurs in the alpine zone in Japan, where it grows in colonies on decaying animal carcasses and excrement. The stems are 2-4 cm tall, and the leaves are soft, long oval, 2-4 mm long, and have a sharp tip. The capsules are large and upright, reddish brown, turning black as they age. The base of the capsules is greatly swollen, and the bright colors make them very noticeable. When the spores mature, they emit a putrid odor that attracts insects such as flies. The spores are sticky and are carried by the bodies of visiting insects.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

マルダイゴケ科の特異な生態をもつ蘚類。北半球の寒冷の地に広く分布し，日本では高山帯にまれに生じ，腐って分解した動物の死骸や糞（ふん）の上に群生する。茎は高さ2～4cm，葉は柔らかく，長卵形で長さ2～4mm，鋭頭。蒴（さく）は大きく直立し，赤褐色で古くなると黒変する。蒴の基部は大きくふくらみ，色彩も鮮やかでよく目だつ。胞子が成熟すると，蒴は腐臭を放ち，ハエなどの昆虫を誘引する。胞子は粘着性があり，訪れた昆虫の体に付着して運ばれる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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