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fissidens moss

Habit Plants 1.5–6 × 1 mm. Plants to 3.5 × 3 mm.
Stem

unbranched and branched;

axillary hyaline nodules present;

central strand present.

unbranched;

axillary hyaline nodules absent;

central strand absent.

Leaves

as many as 16 pairs, oblong to lanceolate, acute to short-acuminate, to 1.3 × 0.25 mm;

dorsal lamina narrowed proximally, ending well above or at insertion;

vaginant laminae ± 4/5 leaf length, ± equal, minor lamina ending on or near margin;

margin ± entire to crenulate-serrulate, limbate on all laminae, limbidium variable, developed best on vaginant laminae, ceasing well before apex, limbidium cells 1-stratose;

costa ending 2–5 cells before apex to percurrent, bryoides-type;

laminal cells 1-stratose, distinct, smooth, somewhat bulging, firm-walled, irregularly quadrate to hexagonal, 9–14 µm, increasing somewhat in size and ± oblong in proximal parts of vaginant laminae.

as many as 6 pairs, lanceolate, acute to obtuse, sometimes apiculate, to 2.2 × 0.5 mm;

dorsal lamina narrowed proximally, ending at insertion, not decurrent;

vaginant laminae 1/3–1/2 leaf length, equal;

margin entire but sometimes ± serrulate distally, limbate, limbidium 1–2 cells wide, ending before apex, often indistinct on vaginant laminae, limbidial cells 1-stratose; ecostate, or costa consisting of very short proximal vestige;

laminal cells 1-stratose, smooth, thin-walled, hexagonal to elongate-hexagonal, 31–67 × 14–34 µm, ± oblong in proximal portions of leaves, particularly in vaginant laminae.

Seta

2–6 mm.

to 3 mm.

Sexual condition

rhizautoicous;

perigonia gemmiform, proximal to fertile and infertile stems, and as branches along horizontal parts of stems.

rhizautoicous;

perigonia gemmiform, proximal to perichaetial stems, and on elongate stems, to 1.2 mm.

Capsule

theca exserted, erect, radially symmetric, 0.5–1.25 mm;

peristome anomalous, variable, even in same theca, teeth undivided, imperfectly divided or divided 4/5 their length, papillose distally, smooth proximally;

operculum 0.22–0.3 mm.

theca exserted, erect, radially symmetric, sometimes slightly arcuate, bilaterally symmetric, to 0.4 mm;

peristome scariosus-type;

operculum ± as long as theca.

Calyptra

cucullate, smooth, to 0.45 mm.

mitrate, prorate, 0.4 mm.

Spores

20–26 µm.

9–13 µm.

Sporophytes

1 per perichaetium.

1 per perichaetium.

Fissidens scalaris

Fissidens hyalinus

Habitat Bare, disturbed soil of stream banks and roadsides, loess banks, often more or less buried Bare, clayey soil in shaded ravines, gorges, and dry stream bottoms
Distribution
from FNA
AL; FL; LA; NC; OK; TX; South America
from FNA
KY; LA; OH; PA; TN; Asia
Discussion

Fissidens scalaris, although widespread in the southern part of the United States, is infrequently collected. It is best distinguished by its dimorphic stems and undivided to deeply divided, papillose peristome teeth. B. E. Lemmon (1965) published photographs of the development of plants, including perigonial, perichaetial, and infertile stems, and peristome.

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

Fissidens hyalinus (Latin hyalus, literally “of glass,” alluding to the transparent, glasslike appearance) is doubtless more common than previously thought. B. E. Lemmon (1966) published a photograph showing a perigonial stem and a perichaetial stem with attached sporophyte. A. C. Risk (2002) gave a thorough account of the distribution and habitat of this tiny moss. Plants cannot be mistaken for any other species in North America, owing to the ecostate leaves and smooth, large, thin-walled laminal cells that shrink considerably when dry.

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

Source FNA vol. 27, p. 347. FNA vol. 27, p. 357.
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. crispus, 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. 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. hallianus, 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 Moenkemeyera neonii, F. neonii
Name authority Mitten: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 12: 596. (1869) Wilson & Hooker f.: J. Bot. (Hooker) 3: 89, fig. 2. (1841)
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