Conostomum tetragonum |
|
---|---|
conostomum moss, helmet-moss |
|
Stems | brown. |
Leaves | stiffly erect, keeled, 1–1.5 mm; alar cells undifferentiated; basal laminal cells rectangular; distal cells 24–30 × 7–8 µm. |
Seta | yellowish red to brown, 0.8–2.5 cm. |
Capsule | ovoid, slightly asymmetric, 2–2.5 mm, neck short, swollen; operculum obliquely rostrate, beak stout; exostome teeth with border narrow, yellow, connate teeth forming perforated cone. |
Spores | 41–52 µm. |
Perigonia | large, paraphyses subclavate. |
Perichaetial | leaves subulate, base ovate, 2–2.5 mm. |
Conostomum tetragonum |
|
Phenology | Capsules mature Jun–Aug. |
Habitat | Thin soil, cliff ledges, among boulders, waterlogged soil of late season snow melt |
Elevation | low to high elevations (0-2200 m) (low to high elevations (0-7200 ft)) |
Distribution |
AK; CO; ME; MT; NH; NY; OR; WA; AB; BC; NB; NL; NT; NU; QC; YT; c Asia; Greenland; Europe; n Asia |
Discussion | Conostomum tetragonum is easily recognized by its glaucous, stiffly erect leaves in five rows and apically connate peristome teeth. Philonotis seriata (known only from Greenland in the flora area), shares a pentastichous leaf arrangement with C. tetragonum, but the laminal cells of P. seriata are prorulose at the proximal ends and the peristome teeth are free. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 28, p. 96. |
Parent taxa | Bartramiaceae > Conostomum |
Synonyms | Mnium tetragonum, C. boreale |
Name authority | (Hedwig) Lindberg: Öfvers. Kongl. Vetensk.-Akad. Förh. 20: 392. (1863) |
Web links |