Distichium capillaceum
Distichium inclinatum
distichium moss, erect-fruit iris-moss
incline distichium moss, inclined iris-moss
to ca. 6 cm, occasionally longer.
to ca. 3 cm, mostly shorter.
to 2 cm, straight to somewhat flexuose, smooth, red or reddish brown, occasionally yellowish brown.
to 2 cm, straight to somewhat flexuose, smooth, red or reddish brown, occasionally yellowish brown.
paroicous.
autoicous.
brown, 1–2 mm, erect, cylindric to ovoid-cylindric, straight to weakly arcuate, becoming ± wrinkled when dry;
operculum to 0.5 mm;
peristome teeth evenly spaced, lanceolate, divided nearly to the base into 2(–3) filaments, smooth to papillose or sometimes ± striolate.
brown, 1–1.5 mm, inclined, ovoid, becoming ± wrinkled when dry;
operculum to 0.3 mm;
peristome evenly spaced, lanceolate, divided nearly to the base into 2(–3) filaments, smooth to papillose or sometimes ± striolate.
densely and finely papillose, 15-25 µm.
densely and finely papillose, occasionally roughened, 30–45(–48) µm.
Distichium capillaceum
Distichium inclinatum
Plants of Distichium capillaceum form dense, rather silky tufts and the slender, spreading, distichous leaves with shiny, whitish, oblong, sheathing bases are characteristic. This is a taller species than D. inclinatum, with plants less crowded, capsules erect-symmetrical and cylindric, and spores smaller. In more northerly or alpine regions with more severe climatic conditions, the plants are often shorter, more compact, and have shorter leaves.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Distichium inclinatum is similar to D. capillaceum and D. hagenii, differing from the former in the inclined, ovoid capsule, shorter stems, more closely set leaves, and larger spores. It differs from the latter primarily by features of the peristome: the peristome teeth of D. hagenii have a basal membrane and the teeth are arranged in eight irregular but separated groups of two teeth each, rather than being evenly spaced as in D. inclinatum and D. capillaceum.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
BC
CalFlora
MI Flora
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
MN Wildflowers
