Fissidens crispus
Fissidens sublimbatus
fissidens moss
unbranched and branched;
axillary hyaline nodules absent;
central strand present or absent.
usually 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 22 pairs, ovate to lanceolate, rounded to obtuse-apiculate, apiculus formed of a single, clear, sharp cell, to 1 × 0.1–0.4 mm, perichaetial and larger leaves oblong to oblong-ligulate and lanceolate;
dorsal lamina usually narrowed abruptly proximally, often arched, ending well before insertion;
vaginant laminae 1/2–3/4 leaf length, ± equal, minor lamina ending on or near margin;
margin ± entire but serrulate distally, elimbate or limbate, limbidium 1-stratose, restricted to vaginant laminae or found to variable degrees on all laminae, often conspicuously intralaminal in proximal parts of vaginant laminae;
costa ending 2–5 cells before apex or percurrent, bryoides-type;
laminal cells 1-stratose, smooth, strongly bulging, ± obscure, usually arranged in discernable rows distally, firm-walled, 6–10 µm, twice as deep as wide.
to 9 mm.
to 5 mm.
gonioautoicous and rhizautoicous.
cladautoicous, gonioautoicous, and possibly rhizautoicous.
theca exserted, inclined, bilaterally symmetric to erect, radially symmetric, to 1 mm;
peristome bryoides-type;
operculum 0.5 mm.
theca exserted, slightly inclined, bilaterally symmetric to erect, radially symmetric, to 1 mm;
peristome bryoides-type;
operculum 0.3 mm.
cucullate, smooth, 0.8 mm.
cucullate, smooth, 0.6 mm.
10–16 µm.
14–23 µm.
1–2 per perichaetium.
1 per perichaetium.
Fissidens crispus
Fissidens sublimbatus
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 sublimbatus is closely allied to F. crispus but is restricted to arid habitats. Indeed, it appears to be the only species of the genus found in Death Valley. Stems of F. sublimbatus are dimorphic, unlike the monomorphic stems of F. crispus. Leaves of infertile stems are small, ovate-lanceolate and usually apiculate, the apiculus formed by a single, clear, sharp cell. The dorsal lamina in these leaves usually ends well before the insertion, are often arched, and the limbidium is most often restricted to the vaginant laminae but can be absent. The 1-stratose limbidium is best developed on perichaetial and larger leaves, but ends below the leaf apex and is usually edged by distinctly chlorophyllose cells. The percurrent costa occurs mostly in perichaetial leaves. As in F. crispus, the distal laminal cells are arranged in distinct rows.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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