Funaria hygrometrica peristome by gjshepherd_br

This is a scanning electron microscope image of the peristome of a Funaria hygrometrica capsule. In this case, the outer peristome teeth are attached to the central disc (rare), and as they elongate or shrink with changes in humidity, the whole structures twists, opening up in dry weather and closing when it’s humid. Like other mosses, peristome tooth formation in Funaria is quite complex and their structure is rich in small details.