Flora of North America species comparison

Of conservation concern.

Previous to its discovery in Iceland, as Grimmia grisea (H. C. Greven 1998), G. reflexidens was known from only the Southern Hemisphere. It had previously been collected east of East Bay, Newfoundland, now the only known locality in North America, but was not recognized as G. reflexidens. The latter is similar to G. asperitricha Dixon & Sainsbury of New Zealand, and the two species have been confused by G. O. K. Sainsbury (1945) as well as by R. Ochyra (1993). J. Muñoz (1998b) synonymized G. reflexidens with G. sessitana. However, the former is readily separated from the latter by: (1) enlarged perichaetial leaves, (2) decurrent awns, (3) non-bulging laminal cells, and (4) dioicous sexual condition. Capsules are unknown from Northern Hemisphere material, but G. reflexidens lacks stomata while they are present for G. sessitana. Although G. reflexidens and G. teretinervis both have decurrent awns they are easily separated by a number of characters: G. reflexidens grows in compact cushions, has long awns, and a semicircular costa; G. teretinervis grows in loose clumps, is hyaline-tipped to short-awned, and has a unique costa that is distally almost completely circular in transverse section.

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

Of conservation concern.

Grimmia atrata is rare in North America, being known only from three widely scattered areas. It is known to geologists as one of the “copper-mosses,” i.e., it is an indicator of heavy-metal-bearing rock. Because it prefers damp gneiss and mica schists, the tufts are often orange inside on account of the presence of heavy-metal oxides. The placement of G. atrata has been problematic. Because of the curved distal leaves and the absence of awns, it does not immediately appear to be a Grimmia. As a result it has previously been placed in a separate genus, Dryptodon, intermediate between Grimmia and Racomitrium. Following Cao T. and D. H. Vitt (1986b), Hastings placed it in subg. Guembelia based on its thick, keeled leaves, long, straight setae, and smooth capsules. With its recurved margin, rectangular, thick-walled, sometimes sinuous basal laminal cells, prominent annulus, and mitrate calyptra, it would seem closest to the group including G. longirostris and G. pilifera. However, its large size and muticous, cucullate leaves, which are often ligulate, coupled with its preference for moist habitats, readily separate this species from other members of this group. Sterile specimens with 1-stratose laminae may be confused as belonging to the subg. Rhabdogrimmia. In densely shaded habitats, it grows in loose patches and the areolation shows a near absence of sinuosity. On dry rock, however, the plants have extremely thick, nodulose cell walls that place the species firmly in Grimmia.

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