Fissidens crispus |
Fissidens osmundioides |
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osmund fissidens moss |
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Habit | Plants to 10 × 3 mm. | Plants 2–21 × 2–3 mm. |
Stem | unbranched and branched; axillary hyaline nodules absent; central strand present or absent. |
sparingly branched; axillary hyaline nodules absent; central strand present. |
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 as many as 20 pairs, obovate to lanceolate, usually widest proximal to the middle, broadly acute to obtuse, often apiculate, 0.7– 2 × 0.3–0.7 mm; dorsal lamina rounded-truncate proximally, ending at or sometimes before insertion; vaginant laminae ± 1/2–3/4 the leaf length, ± equal, minor lamina ending on or near margin; margin crenulate throughout or evenly serrulate distally, elimbate; costa ending 2–14 cells before apex, taxifolius-type; lamina cells 1-stratose, distinct, smooth, bulging, firm-walled, ± hexagonal, 10–18 µm. |
Seta | to 9 mm. |
2–2.5 mm. |
Sexual condition | gonioautoicous and rhizautoicous. |
dioicous; perigonia and perichaetia on elongate stems. |
Capsule | theca exserted, inclined, bilaterally symmetric to erect, radially symmetric, to 1 mm; peristome bryoides-type; operculum 0.5 mm. |
theca erect, bilaterally symmetric, to 1 mm; peristome taxifolius-type; operculum 1 mm. |
Calyptra | cucullate, smooth, 0.8 mm. |
mitrate, smooth, 1.5 mm. |
Spores | 10–16 µm. |
16–23 µm. |
Sporophytes | 1–2 per perichaetium. |
1 per perichaetium. |
Fissidens crispus |
Fissidens osmundioides |
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Habitat | Moist shaded soil, over rocks near streams, infrequently submerged by fluctuating water levels | |
Distribution |
AZ; CA; CO; LA; MS; NM; NV; OR; TX; UT; WA; AB; BC; Mexico; Central America; South America; West Indies |
AK; AL; AR; CO; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; MA; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; TN; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; AB; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; NT; NU; ON; QC; YT; Greenland; Europe; Asia |
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 osmundioides is distinguished by its papillose rhizoids, evenly crenulate-serrulate leaf margin, broadly acute to obtuse and sometimes apiculate leaf apex, costa that ends well before the leaf apex, and terminal sporophytes. It is most apt to be confused with F. adianthoides, which has smooth rhizoids, irregularly serrate leaf apex, a band of lighter marginal cells, and sporophytes in the axils of proximal leaves. Generally in moist, shaded sites of acidic and basic rocks and boulders that are sometimes subject to spray, soil and humus in seepage areas, meadows, swamps, and fens, around bases of trees (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 27, p. 349. | FNA vol. 27, p. 340. |
Parent taxa | Fissidentaceae > Fissidens | Fissidentaceae > Fissidens |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | F. limbatus, F. limbatus var. brevifolius, F. limbatus var. ensiformis, F. pusillus var. brevifolius, F. repandus, F. tortilis | |
Name authority | Montagne: Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 2, 9: 57. (1838) | Hedwig: Sp. Musc. Frond., 153, plate 40, figs. 7–11. (1801) |
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