Flora of North America species comparison

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Hypnum

Hypnum cupressiforme

hypnum moss

cypress-leaf claw-moss, cypress-leaf plaitmoss, hypnum moss
Habit Plants small to large, in tufts or not, yellowish, green, or brown, glossy or dull. Plants small to large, rusty green, golden green, yellow-green, or pale green.
Stem(s)

and branch leaves similar, secund or falcate-secund, not undulate, broadly to narrowly ovate, widest beyond base, not to strongly plicate;

base decurrent or not;

margins sometimes recurved basally, usually plane distally, sinuate to entire proximally, toothed to entire distally;

apex acuminate or acute;

costa double or obscure, usually to 1/4 leaf length;

alar cells often differentiated, quadrate, subquadrate, triangular, or hexagonal;

laminal cells smooth;

distal cells usually longer than 6:1.

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

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.
Seta

yellowish to reddish.

reddish, 1–2.5(–3) cm.
Sexual condition

autoicous, dioicous, or phyllodioicous;

outer perichaetial leaves reflexed, inner leaves erect, ovate to lanceolate or subulate, apex slenderly acuminate.

dioicous;

inner perichaetial leaves oblong-lanceolate, margins serrulate distally, costa obscure.
Capsule

erect, inclined, or horizontal, long-cylindric to ovoid, usually curved, commonly contracted below mouth;

annulus 1–3-seriate to scarcely differentiated;

operculum conic to rounded-mammillate;

peristome double;

exostome teeth with external surface with distinct zigzag line and lamellae, finely cross striolate basally, hyaline and papillose distally;

endostome basal membrane high, segments ca. as high as teeth, carinate, cilia 1–3 or sometimes rudimentary.

slightly inclined, reddish, cylindric, 1.8–2.5(–2.8) mm;

annulus 1–3-seriate;

operculum conic to rostrate;

endostome cilia 1–2(–3).
Calyptra

naked.

Spores

round, smooth or finely papillose.

Specialized

asexual reproduction absent.

Hypnum

Hypnum cupressiforme
Distribution
from USDA
Nearly worldwide; except Antarctica; temperate regions
Nearly worldwide; except Antarctica
[WildflowerSearch map]
Discussion

Species ca. 50 (22 in the flora).

Hypnum remains a repository for a number of discordant elements, some considered to belong to other families. The genus once included a high proportion of the pleurocarpous mosses. The generic concept accepted here contains some species probably not Hypnum, but it is a reasonably natural genus that can be recognized in the field, especially when examined with a hand lens. Gametophytic features are supreme in separation of species although the presence of sporophytes provides additional features.

Leafy plants of vegetative specimens may consist almost entirely of branches, with different but characteristic stem leaves unrepresented. This can happen when plants form turflike colonies or when stems disintegrate, leaving only branches. Plants in extreme environments, especially with respect to moisture, may be unusual; for instance, plants of deeply shaded or wet sites may be markedly attenuated. In the key, the following features define differences in size of gametophores: ‘small’ refers to stem leaves 1.2–1.5 mm and stems usually 1–2 cm and slender (related to the leaf size); ‘medium’ refers to stem leaves 1.5–3 mm and stems 2–4 cm; ‘large’ or ‘robust’ refers to stem leaves more than 3 mm and stems more than 4 cm.

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

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.)
Parent taxa Hypnaceae Hypnaceae > Hypnum
Sibling taxa
H. andoi, H. bambergeri, H. callichroum, H. circinale, H. curvifolium, H. dieckei, H. fauriei, H. fujiyamae, H. hamulosum, H. holmenii, H. imponens, H. jutlandicum, H. lindbergii, H. pallescens, H. plicatulum, H. pratense, H. procerrimum, H. recurvatum, H. revolutum, H. subimponens, H. vaucheri
Subordinate taxa
H. andoi, H. bambergeri, H. callichroum, H. circinale, H. cupressiforme, H. curvifolium, H. dieckei, H. fauriei, H. fujiyamae, H. hamulosum, H. holmenii, H. imponens, H. jutlandicum, H. lindbergii, H. pallescens, H. plicatulum, H. pratense, H. procerrimum, H. recurvatum, H. revolutum, H. subimponens, H. vaucheri
H. cupressiforme var. cupressiforme, H. cupressiforme var. filiforme, H. cupressiforme var. julaceum, H. cupressiforme var. subjulaceum
Key
1. Stems with hyalodermis usually present
→ 2
1. Stems with hyalodermis absent
→ 10
2. Hyalodermis absent, sometimes epidermis present, interrupted, especially at leaf decurrencies.
H. fauriei
2. Hyalodermis present
→ 3
3. Stem leaves gradually tapering to insertion (except H. pratense); alar regions slightly differentiated
→ 4
3. Stem leaves curved to insertion (except H. lindbergii); alar regions usually well defined
→ 6
4. Stems complanate-foliate; leaves sometimes falcate, not strongly secund; apices broadly acute.
H. pratense
4. Stems never complanate-foliate; leaves falcate- or circinate-secund; apices narrowly acuminate
→ 5
5. Plants small; stem leaves 1.3-1.5 × 0.4-0.5 mm; stems erect; plants in tufts; medial laminal cells 40-60(-70) µm; leaf margins weakly toothed toward apex.
H. hamulosum
5. Plants medium-sized; stem leaves 1.5-2.8 × 0.4-0.6 mm; stems creeping; plants not in tufts; medial laminal cells 50-80(-90) µm; leaf margins serrate toward apex.
H. subimponens
6. Plants small to medium-sized; stem leaves strongly curved to insertion; bases auriculate; alar regions with outermost cell walls not thinner.
H. plicatulum
6. Plants small to large; stem leaves not, weakly, or sometimes strongly curved to insertion; bases decurrent or not; alar regions with outermost cell walls thinner
→ 7
7. Plants small; stem leaves broadly ovate-lanceolate; alar cells gradually enlarged; bases not decurrent.
H. holmenii
7. Plants medium-sized to large, rarely small; stem leaves ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or oblong-ovate; alar cells abruptly enlarged; bases decurrent
→ 8
8. Bases weakly decurrent; stems red-brown to nearly black.
H. dieckei
8. Bases decurrent; stems yellow, green, or reddish brown, brown with age
→ 9
9. Stems usually reclining (procumbent to ascending); leaf acumina slender; margins serrulate at apex; stems yellow or green.
H. callichroum
9. Stems often suberect to creeping; leaf acumina slender or broad; margins entire to bluntly serrate at apex; stems brown with age.
H. lindbergii
10. Stem leaf bases auriculate, sometimes only on one side
→ 11
10. Stem leaf bases not or rarely slightly auriculate
→ 13
11. Stem leaf acumina long-attenuate; alar cells few, 2-5 in marginal row.
H. circinale
11. Stem leaf acumina broad or tapering; alar cells few or more than 20
→ 12
12. Alar cells few, regions often excavate; plants light green to yellow-green, glossy; stems sparsely branched.
H. curvifolium
12. Alar cells more than 20, regions not excavate; plants rusty brown to golden brown or occasionally dark green, dull; stems densely branched.
H. procerrimum
13. Leaf bases decurrent (when stripped from stem often bearing 1 or more elongate decurrent cells on margin)
→ 14
13. Leaf bases not or weakly decurrent (when stripped from stem usually not bearing elongate decurrent cells)
→ 15
14. Pseudoparaphyllia with margins entire.
H. fauriei
14. Pseudoparaphyllia with margins incised.
H. imponens
15. Alar regions extensive, triangular, of 5+ vertical rows of cells, elongate basalmost cells few or absent
→ 16
15. Alar regions small, of 1-3 vertical rows of cells, elongate basalmost cells 1-3
→ 22
16. Pseudoparaphyllia broadly foliose.
H. vaucheri
16. Pseudoparaphyllia filamentous or lanceolate
→ 17
17. Stem leaf margins recurved basally to 2/3 leaf length or longer, occasionally plane; sexual condition autoicous.
H. recurvatum
17. Stem leaf margins recurved near base or plane; sexual condition dioicous
→ 18
18. Plants small; branch leaves (0.8-)1-1.4 × 0.2-0.4 mm
→ 19
18. Plants small to medium-sized; branch leaves larger than (0.8-)1-1.4 × 0.2-0.4 mm
→ 20
19. Stem leaves falcate-secund; margins sharply serrulate at apex.
H. andoi
19. Stem leaves weakly or not falcate; margins entire to serrulate at apex.
H. cupressiforme
20. Plants large; branch leaves 1.4-2.5 × 0.5-0.7 mm.
H. cupressiforme
20. Plants medium-sized; branch leaves 1.4-2 × 0.4-0.5 mm
→ 21
21. Plants rusty green, golden green, yellow-green, or pale green; stems not complanate-foliate; leaves strongly imbricate.
H. cupressiforme
21. Plants pale green; stems strongly complanate-foliate; leaves loosely imbricate.
H. jutlandicum
22. Pseudoparaphyllia filamentous to lanceolate
→ 23
22. Pseudoparaphyllia foliose or lanceolate
→ 25
23. Plants pale green; stems strongly complanate-foliate; leaves loosely imbricate.
H. jutlandicum
23. Plants pale green, yellowish, rusty green, or golden green; stems not complanate-foliate; leaves closely imbricate
→ 24
24. Stem leaf margins sharply serrulate at apex; plants usually on vertical surfaces.
H. andoi
24. Stem leaf margins serrulate or nearly entire at apex; plants usually on horizontal surfaces.
H. cupressiforme
25. Alar cells dark brown, regions excavate; laminal cell walls pitted throughout; plants reddish to yellowish brown; usually in seepage sites.
H. bambergeri
25. Alar cells, if pigmented, usually reddish to yellowish, if excavate, whole alar region involved; laminal cell walls pitted only near base; plants pale rusty brown to golden green; usually in well-drained to dry sites
→ 26
26. Plants small, rarely medium-sized; sexual condition autoicous or dioicous; alar cells subopaque or not pigmented
→ 27
26. Plants medium-sized to large; sexual condition dioicous or phyllodioicous; alar cells pigmented or not
→ 28
27. Stem leaf margins serrate distally; sexual condition autoicous; epiphytic or on rotten wood.
H. pallescens
27. Stem leaf margins entire at apex; sexual condition dioicous; usually terrestrial and often on calcareous rock.
H. revolutum
28. Alar cells at basal margin hyaline, enlarged.
H. vaucheri
28. Alar cells at basal margin red-pigmented, swollen
→ 29
29. Pseudoparaphyllia lanceolate or ovate, margins not incised.
H. fujiyamae
29. Pseudoparaphyllia lanceolate or foliose, margins usually incised.
H. imponens
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
Synonyms Breidleria, Drepanium, Pseudostereodon, Stereodon Stereodon cupressiformis
Name authority Hedwig: Sp. Musc. Frond., 236, plate 59, figs. 8, 9: plates 60–77. (1801) Hedwig: Sp. Musc. Frond., 291. (1801)
Source FNA vol. 28, p. 532. Treatment author: Wilfred B. Schofield†. FNA vol. 28, p. 537. Treatment author: Wilfred B. Schofield†.
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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