Fissidens taxifolius
Fissidens ventricosus
fissidens moss, yew-leaf pocket moss
fissidens moss
mostly branched;
axillary hyaline nodules absent;
central strand present.
unbranched and branched;
axillary hyaline nodules absent;
central strand weak.
as many as 15 pairs, often undulate, oblong to lanceolate, obtuse to broadly acute, cuspidate, to 2.7 mm × 0.6 mm;
dorsal lamina truncate-rounded proximally, ending at insertion, not decurrent;
vaginant laminae 2/3 the leaf length, ± equal, minor lamina ending on or near margin;
margin evenly serrulate, often crenulate-serrulate on dorsal and ventral laminae, elimbate;
costa ending in cuspidate apex, taxifolius-type;
laminal cells 1-stratose, distinct, smooth, bulging, firm-walled, irregularly hexagonal, 8–11 µm frequently paler at margin, conspicuously mammillose in vaginant laminae, larger and clearer juxtacostally.
as many as 35 pairs, lanceolate to oblong-lingulate, acute to obtuse-apiculate; to 5 × 0.9 mm;
dorsal lamina narrowed proximally, ending at insertion, not decurrent;
vaginant laminae 1/2–2/3 leaf length, equal;
margin ± entire, limbate on all laminae, limbidium reaching apex or ending a few cells before apex and a few cells above insertion of dorsal lamina, limbidial cells 3- to 6-stratose;
costa ± percurrent, bryoides-type;
laminal cells 1-stratose, or variably 2-stratose, smooth, slightly bulging, firm-walled, irregularly quadrate to hexagonal, 8–13 µm, ± twice as deep as wide.
to 17 mm.
stout, to 3 mm, geniculate.
rhizautoicous;
perigonia on short branches proximal to elongate stems;
perichaetia on short, proximal, axillary branches.
probably rhizautoicous;
perigonia not seen;
perichaetia on elongate stems.
theca slightly inclined, slightly arcuate, bilaterally symmetric, to 1.5 mm;
peristome taxifolius-type;
operculum to 1 mm.
theca emergent, erect, radially symmetric, to 1.2 mm;
peristome bryoides-type;
operculum 0.4 mm.
cucullate, smooth, to 2 mm.
not seen.
13–18 µm.
23–40 µm.
1 per perichaetium.
1–2 per perichaetium.
Fissidens taxifolius
Fissidens ventricosus
Fissidens taxifolius is distinguished by evenly serrulate or crenulate-serrulate leaf margin, stout costa ending in leaf cusp, conspicuous mammillose cells in the vaginant laminae, and sporophytes on short branches in the axils of proximal leaves. It can be confused with F. bushii, but that species is smaller, has costa shorter, and cells in the vaginant laminae have small, more or less inconspicuous papillae in the corners of the walls. Fissidens taxifolius usually occurs on shaded, damp soil or humus, whereas F. bushii is usually found on disturbed soil in woods, along paths, and in road cuts. Fissidens clebschii is considered to be a freakish expression of F. taxifolius (R. A. Pursell 2003).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Fissidens ventricosus occurs along the Pacific Coast of North America and at a disjunct site in northern Idaho (see map in R. R. Ireland and W. B. Schofield 1967). It is distinguished by its aquatic habitat, strongly limbate leaves, variably 2-stratose laminal cells, short, thick, geniculate seta, and emergent capsule. Plants usually become black and covered with diatoms. The species might be confused with F. rigidulus Hooker f. & Wilson, but the latter, found in wet sites in the Americas from Chile north to Mexico but not known in the United States, has much smaller laminal cells and a long seta characteristic of terrestrial species. The calyptra of F. ventricosus is cucullate according to Ireland and Schofield.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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