Fissidens crispus
Fissidens aphelotaxifolius
fissidens moss
unbranched and branched;
axillary hyaline nodules absent;
central strand present or absent.
branched;
axillary hyaline nodules absent;
central strand present.
as many as 20 pairs, elliptic to broadly lanceolate to oblong-lingulate, acute, short-acuminate to obtuse-apiculate, to 2 × 0.5 mm;
dorsal lamina narrowed proximally, ending before insertion to ± decurrent;
vaginant laminae 2/3–3/4 leaf length, equal;
margin ± entire but usually serrulate distally, limbate on all laminae, limbidium usually ending a few cells before apex, frequently edged by 1–2 rows of quadrate to oblong chlorophyllose cells in proximal parts of vaginant laminae, limbidial cells 1–2-stratose;
costa percurrent to ending 2–5 cells before leaf, infrequently short-excurrent, bryoides-type;
laminal cells 1-stratose, smooth, strongly bulging, densely chlorophyllose, ± obscure, firm-walled, irregularly quadrate to hexagonal, usually arranged in discernable rows in distal part of leaf, 6–10 µm, twice as deep as wide.
as many as 20 pairs, lorate to lanceolate, acute to rounded, apiculate, to 2.35 × 0.35–0.65 mm;
dorsal lamina usually rounded proximally, ending at insertion, sometimes ending before insertion or slightly decurrent;
vaginant laminae 1/2 leaf length, ± equal, minor lamina ending on or near margin;
margin mostly crenulate on dorsal and ventral laminae, mostly serrulate on vaginant laminae and distally, elimbate;
costa variable in length, even on same plant, excurrent into apiculus to ending several cells before apex, taxifolius-type;
lamina cells 1-stratose, distinct, smooth, slightly bulging, firm-walled, quadrate to irregularly hexagonal, 6–15 µm, somewhat larger justacostally, marginal row thinner, paler.
to 9 mm.
gonioautoicous and rhizautoicous.
dioicous(?);
perigonia unknown;
perichaetia on short proximal stems and axillary in proximal leaves.
theca exserted, inclined, bilaterally symmetric to erect, radially symmetric, to 1 mm;
peristome bryoides-type;
operculum 0.5 mm.
cucullate, smooth, 0.8 mm.
10–16 µm.
1–2 per perichaetium.
, calyptra, and spores not known.
Fissidens crispus
Fissidens aphelotaxifolius
Three species belong to the Fissidens crispus complex; F. crispus, F. minutulus, and F. sublimbatus. A well-developed limbidium and small (6–10 µm), bulging, obscure laminal cells that in transverse section are twice as deep as wide characterize all three.
Fissidens crispus, better known in western North America as F. limbatus, is highly variable and widespread, ranging widely in tropical America, where it also attains its greatest variability. It is best distinguished by laminal cells that are usually arranged in discernable rows in the distal parts of leaves. The dorsal lamina is quite variable, ending above the insertion to long-decurrent as in some tropical expressions. Leaves, when dry, are usually crispate. The limbidium is found on all or most leaves and usually extends to or ends just before the apex.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Fissidens aphelotaxifolius can be confused with F. taxifolius but is best distinguished by its smooth and slightly bulging laminal cells, distinct from the conspicuously mammillose cells in the ventral laminae of the F. taxifolius. Moreover, the plants tend to be smaller and leaf apex more coarsely serrulate than in F. taxifolius. Vegetative propagation of F. aphelotaxifolius is apparently by abundant branched, chlorophyllose filaments.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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