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fissidens moss

Habit Plants to 10 × 3 mm. Plants to 120 × 6 mm.
Stem

unbranched and branched;

axillary hyaline nodules absent;

central strand present or absent.

usually profusely branched;

axillary hyaline nodules absent;

central strand absent.

Leaves

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.

in numerous pairs, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acute, to 6.5 × 0.7 mm;

dorsal lamina narrowed proximally, usually ending before insertion;

vaginant laminae 1/4–1/2 leaf length, acute, unequal in most leaves, minor lamina rounded above, attached on or near costa, ± equal on proximal part of stem, minor lamina ending near leaf margin;

margin ± entire, elimbate or limbate in the proximal 2/3 or less of vaginant laminae;

costa ending 5–15 cells before apex, bryoides-type;

laminal cells 1-stratose, distinct, smooth, slightly bulging, ± firm-walled, quadrate to oblong to hexagonal, 10–15 × 9–11 µm.

Seta

to 9 mm.

0.7–1.5 mm, often bent at the vaginula.

Sexual condition

gonioautoicous and rhizautoicous.

cladautoicous;

perigonia on elongate, axillary branches;

perichaetia terminal on mains stems and elongate, axillary branches.

Capsule

theca exserted, inclined, bilaterally symmetric to erect, radially symmetric, to 1 mm;

peristome bryoides-type;

operculum 0.5 mm.

theca erect, radially symmetric, 0.4–0.8 mm;

peristome anomalous, teeth variable, undivided and often fenestrate to divided 2/3 their length, even in same capsule, nearly smooth to papillose proximally, filaments with straight or spiral thickenings or striations;

operculum 0.4–0.6 mm.

Calyptra

cucullate, smooth, 0.8 mm.

not seen.

Spores

10–16 µm.

14–32 µm.

Sporophytes

1–2 per perichaetium.

1–2 per perichaetium.

Fissidens crispus

Fissidens hallianus

Habitat Moist shaded soil, over rocks near streams, infrequently submerged by fluctuating water levels Flowing and non-flowing water over limestone, granite, and bases of trees, especially abundant in Taxodium-Nyssa swamps
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; LA; MS; NM; NV; OR; TX; UT; WA; AB; BC; Mexico; Central America; South America; West Indies
from FNA
FL; IL; LA; MA; MS; NC; NJ; TX
Discussion

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 hallianus, named for Elihu Hall, has been confused with F. fontanus; they can be found growing together and both have similar vaginant laminae, although in F. hallianus there can be a weak limbidiuim on the proximal margin. Moreover, the costa is longer in F. hallianus than in F. fontanus. The sporophytes of F. hallianus are terminal, the number per perichaetium usually fewer than in F. fontanus, the seta is longer, relative to the length of the capsule, and the peristome teeth are complete. Sexual reproduction appears to be dependent on seasonal exposure.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 27, p. 349. FNA vol. 27, p. 344.
Parent taxa Fissidentaceae > Fissidens Fissidentaceae > Fissidens
Sibling taxa
F. adianthoides, F. amoenus, F. aphelotaxifolius, F. appalachensis, F. arcticus, F. asplenioides, F. bryoides, F. bushii, F. closteri, F. curvatus, F. dubius, F. elegans, F. exilis, F. fontanus, F. grandifrons, F. hallianus, F. hyalinus, F. leptophyllus, F. littlei, F. minutulus, F. obtusifolius, F. osmundioides, F. pallidinervis, F. pauperculus, F. pellucidus, F. polypodioides, F. santa-clarensis, F. scalaris, F. serratus, F. subbasilaris, F. sublimbatus, F. submarginatus, F. taxifolius, F. taylorii, F. ventricosus, F. zollingeri
F. adianthoides, F. amoenus, F. aphelotaxifolius, F. appalachensis, F. arcticus, F. asplenioides, F. bryoides, F. bushii, F. closteri, F. crispus, F. curvatus, F. dubius, F. elegans, F. exilis, F. fontanus, F. grandifrons, F. hyalinus, F. leptophyllus, F. littlei, F. minutulus, F. obtusifolius, F. osmundioides, F. pallidinervis, F. pauperculus, F. pellucidus, F. polypodioides, F. santa-clarensis, F. scalaris, F. serratus, F. subbasilaris, F. sublimbatus, F. submarginatus, F. taxifolius, F. taylorii, F. ventricosus, F. zollingeri
Synonyms F. limbatus, F. limbatus var. brevifolius, F. limbatus var. ensiformis, F. pusillus var. brevifolius, F. repandus, F. tortilis Conomitrium hallianum, F. manateensis, Octodiceras hallianum
Name authority Montagne: Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 2, 9: 57. (1838) (Sullivant & Lesquereux) Mitten: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 560. (1885)
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