Hypnum subimponens
Hypnum lindbergii
curly claw-moss, hypnum moss
Lindberg's claw-moss, Lindberg's hypnum moss
leaves circinate-secund, ovate-lanceolate, gradually tapering to insertion, gradually narrowed to apex, 1.5–2.8 × 0.4–0.6 mm;
base not decurrent;
margins plane, sinuate proximally, serrate toward apex;
apex narrowly acuminate;
costa double, short, indistinct, less than 1/3 leaf length;
alar region slightly differentiated, of 3 or 4 cells at extreme basal angles;
basal laminal cells shorter, broader than medial cells, not strongly pigmented, walls pitted;
medial cells 50–80(–90) × 3–4 µm. Sexual condition dioicous;
inner perichaetial leaves lanceolate, weakly or not plicate, margins slightly toothed or entire near apex.
1–5 cm, reddish brown to yellowish green, brown with age, suberect to creeping, irregularly to sparsely branched to somewhat pinnate, branches 0.2–2 cm;
hyalodermis present, central strand well developed;
pseudoparaphyllia foliose.
falcate-secund (sometimes weakly so), oblong-ovate, not or slightly rounded to insertion, tapering gradually to apex, 0.5–2 × 0.5–1 mm;
base decurrent;
margins plane, entire to bluntly serrate especially in apex;
acumen slender or broad;
costa double, short;
alar cells abruptly enlarged, region well defined, in 2–4 rows along margins, outermost cell walls thinner;
basal laminal cells wider, shorter than medial cells, yellowish, walls porose;
medial cells 60–100 × 5–6 µm. Sexual condition dioicous;
inner perichaetial leaves oblong-lanceolate, margins serrulate at apex, apex attenuate, costa obscure.
red-brown, 2.5–3 cm.
reddish, 2.5–4 cm.
erect to suberect, light brown, cylindric, 3–5 mm;
annulus 1–3-seriate;
operculum conic or rostellate;
endostome cilia unknown.
inclined, pale brown, cylindric, 2–3 mm;
annulus 2- or 3-seriate;
operculum conic-convex;
endostome cilia 2–4.
Hypnum subimponens
Hypnum lindbergii
Specimens of Hypnum subimponens from Arctic regions are problematic; in fact, any specimens from horizontal surfaces can be difficult to place accurately. Sporophytes, produced in spring, are frequent only on vertical surfaces and then often abundant. Unlike similar species in western North America, H. subimponens produces cylindric, erect capsules (slightly curved below the mouth when mature). Hypnum lindbergii has falcate-secund leaves, while those in H. subimponens are circinate-secund to strongly hamate. Key traits of the stem leaves separate H. subimponens from H. hamulosum, and the former is usually more than twice the size of the latter. See also discussions of 3. H. callichroum, 11. H. holmenii, and 16. H. plicatulum. Plants of H. subimponens have branches 0.5–1 mm wide; the alar cells are slightly bulging, hyaline, and thin-walled.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Hypnum lindbergii is a species largely of temperate climates, most frequent in boreal and warm temperate regions, less frequent in the Arctic, occurring from sea level to alpine elevations; sporophytes are infrequently produced in spring and summer. Plants of H. lindbergii have few or no rhizoids; the supra-alar cells are shorter than the alar cells, in 1–3 rows; the capsules are furrowed when dry; and the endostome cilia are as long as the segments. The hyalodermis cortical cells, leaves usually curved to insertion, usually well-defined alar regions of swollen thin-walled cells, and often wide acute apex of many stem leaves usually separate this species from similar taxa. Hypnum pratense resembles H. lindbergii somewhat, but H. pratense tends to be very glossy, with stem leaves often complanate, and thin-walled alar cells absent.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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