Hypnum cupressiforme
Hypnum imponens
cypress-leaf claw-moss, cypress-leaf plaitmoss, hypnum moss
hypnum moss, log moss
1–8+ cm, pale to yellowish green, brown with age, creeping to erect, complanate-foliate or not, irregularly pinnate to nearly unbranched, attached shoots often regularly pinnate, branches 1–3 cm;
hyalodermis absent, central strand poorly developed;
pseudoparaphyllia filamentous, 1–3-seriate at base.
leaves falcate-secund, triangular-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to apex, 1.8–2 × 0.6–0.8 mm;
base somewhat decurrent, not auriculate;
margins plane or weakly recurved basally, serrulate distally or rarely nearly entire;
acumen slender;
costa double, short, or indistinct;
alar cells subquadrate, basalmost cells deep orange-brown, outer cells hyaline, region weakly defined, not to weakly excavate, 5–10 cells high on margin;
basal laminal cells broader than medial cells, yellow-orange to orange-brown, walls pitted;
medial cells 50–70(–80) × 3–4(–5) µm, walls sometimes porose, not pitted.
strongly imbricate, not to decidedly falcate-secund, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, gradually or abruptly narrowed to apex, 1.5–2 × 0.5–0.8 mm;
base not decurrent, not auriculate;
margins recurved to plane proximally, serrulate (sometimes weakly) distally, occasionally nearly entire;
acumen slender;
costa double and short or obscure;
alar region well defined, basalmost cells larger, sometimes hyaline, yellowish or brownish;
basal laminal cells shorter, wider than medial cells, not pigmented, walls not pitted;
medial cells (50–)60–80 × 3–4(–5) µm.
reddish, 1–2.5(–3) cm.
red-brown, 1–3 cm.
dioicous;
inner perichaetial leaves oblong-lanceolate, margins serrulate distally, costa obscure.
dioicous;
inner perichaetial leaves oblong-lanceolate, margins serrate in apex, apex long, costa indistinct.
slightly inclined, reddish, cylindric, 1.8–2.5(–2.8) mm;
annulus 1–3-seriate;
operculum conic to rostrate;
endostome cilia 1–2(–3).
erect to slightly inclined, red-brown, cylindric, 1.5–3 mm;
annulus scarcely differentiated;
operculum conic to rostellate;
endostome cilia 1, sometimes 2 or rudimentary.
Hypnum cupressiforme
Hypnum imponens
Varieties 9 (4 in the flora).
Hypnum cupressiforme is an extremely polymorphic species, reflected in the more than 60 varieties that have been described. The species has a wide ecological amplitude as well as a nearly cosmopolitan distribution and is found in all climatic regions except the Antarctic. Taxonomic features reliable in most other species of Hypnum are plastic in H. cupressiforme. Within a single clone, it is possible to sort out several named varieties. Variety lacunosum Bridel was noted by H. Ando (1989) to be weakly differentiated in North America, and he tentatively cited specimens from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and South Dakota. Ando noted that var. lacunosum typically is robust, thick-complanate to julaceous, with leaves almost straight to weakly falcate and abruptly narrowed to a short acumen, but the North American material is not robust and is therefore problematic.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Hypnum imponens is an amphi-Atlantic species that produces sporophytes, sometimes abundantly, in summer. The species is distinguished by the often pigmented, heterogeneous alar cells, usually reddish stems, long-toothed, foliose, usually numerous pseudoparaphyllia, and nearly erect, cylindric capsules. The branches usually emerge in one horizontal plane; the leaves are not to weakly plicate; the perichaetial leaf margins are often strongly revolute proximally; and the capsules are somewhat curved below the mouth. The lanceolate or filamentous pseudoparaphyllia and generally homogeneous alar cells of H. cupressiforme and its near relatives are usually sufficient to separate them from this species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Branch leaves 1.5-2 × 0.4-0.6 mm or slightly larger | → 2 |
1. Branch leaves 1-1.4 × 0.2-0.4 mm or slightly smaller | → 3 |
2. Stems weakly complanate-foliate; leaves usually falcate, sometimes strongly so; alar cells not excavate or pigmented. | var. cupressiforme |
2. Stems subjulaceous to complanate-foliate; leaves straight to weakly falcate; alar cells excavate, pigmented. | var. subjulaceum |
3. Leaves usually falcate, sometimes strongly so; margins subentire to distinctly toothed distally. | var. cupressiforme |
3. Leaves straight to somewhat falcate; margins entire or subentire | → 4 |
4. Stems subjulaceous, creeping; leaves oblong-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to apex; laminal cells 60-80 × 3-4 µm (or slightly larger). | var. filiforme |
4. Stems julaceous, creeping to erect; leaves ovate or widely oblong, abruptly narrowed to apex; laminal cells 40-50 × 5-6 µm. | var. julaceum |
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