Grimmia ramondii
Grimmia moxleyi
moxley's dry rock moss
5–10 cm, central strand absent.
1–1.5 mm high, small central strand present.
absent.
absent.
loosely appressed when dry, patent when moist, broadly ovate-lanceolate, tapering to an acute, slightly toothed apex, 2–3 × 0.4–0.6 mm, keeled, margins recurved on both sides, awns absent, costa stout, with two abaxial lamellae (or wings) forming parallel ridges along its length;
basal juxtacostal laminal cells yellow, linear, sinuose, thick-walled;
basal marginal laminal cells quadrate to short-rectangular, slightly thick-walled;
medial laminal cells quadrate to rectangular, sinuous, thick-walled;
distal laminal cells 1-stratose, margins 2-stratose.
erect with slightly incurved tips when dry, erect-spreading when moist, oblong, broadly rounded and muticous at apex, 1.5–2 × 0.4–0.6 mm, keeled, margins plane to recurved, awns absent, only present in perichaetial leaves, costa weak proximally, projecting at abaxial side, perichaetial leaves longer and with awns;
basal juxacostal laminal cells short- to long-rectangular, straight, thin-walled;
basal marginal laminal cells short- to long-rectangular, thin-walled;
medial laminal cells rounded-quadrate, ± sinuose, thin- or thick-walled;
distal laminal cells 2-stratose.
cygneous to arcuate at maturity, flexuose when old, 3–5 mm.
flexuose to arcuate, 1–1.5 mm.
dioicous.
autoicous.
occasionally present, exserted, obloid, yellowish green to yellowish brown, plicate when empty, exothecial cells thin-walled, annulus present, operculum rostrate, peristome teeth purple, divided nearly to base into two partly adhering segments, papillose.
usually present, exserted, chestnut brown, oblong-ovoid, wrinkled-plicate when dry, exothecial cells thin- to thick-walled, annulus present, operculum conical, peristome teeth yellowish, split and perforated, papillose.
mitrate.
cucullate.
Grimmia ramondii
Grimmia moxleyi
Grimmia ramondii occurs near sea level in arctic areas and along the West Coast. In the latter region, however, it is more common in mid-elevation montane sites and may also be found above the tree line. It differs from most Grimmia species by its lack of awns, winged costa, and tall, loose growth form. At first sight, G. ramondii has the habit of a Racomitrium. However, the sporophyte has an arcuate rather than straight seta, and the capsules are striate rather than smooth. Because of its habit and the absence of a central strand, K. G. Limpricht ([1885–]1890–1903, vol. 1) placed it, together with G. hartmanii and G. atrata, in Dryptodon, a genus intermediate between Grimmia and Racomitrium. There are many other Grimmia species, however, without a central strand, and G. hartmanii and G. atrata have already been removed from Dryptodon, so there is no reason to maintain that monotypic genus. Grimmia ramondii may be confused with G. hartmanii and G. elatior. However, the lack of awns, the Racomitrioideae-like areolation, and the distinct costal wings distinguish it easily from those species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Grimmia moxleyi is endemic to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. A thermophilous species from acidic rock, it is autoicous and usually richly provided with capsules. The species is characterized by growing in flat, easily disintegrating patches with short, keeled, muticous stem leaves that contrast with its much larger awned perichaetial leaves. J. Muñoz (2000) synonymized G. moxleyi with G. orbicularis. Although there are some similarities, G. orbicularis is much larger, grows in dense cushions on basic rock, has setae 2–3 mm, shiny, spherical capsules, and a mammilate operculum. Only the most proximal stem leaves of G. orbicularis are muticous and the basal juxtacostal cells have thick, nodulose walls.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CalFlora
Flora NW
MI Flora
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
