Imbribryum miniatum
glossy red bryum moss
2–4(–5) cm, strongly julaceous, with metallic sheen, older stem sometimes densely radiculose.
rigid, strongly imbricate when dry, purple-red to brown-red, rarely dull olive green, ovate, strongly concave, (1–)2–3 mm;
base not or weakly decurrent;
margins plane throughout or rarely revolute proximally, entire to finely serrulate distally, limbidium absent;
apex rounded-obtuse to broadly acute, cucullate;
costa red-brown to brown, percurrent, awn absent;
basal laminal cells somewhat inflated, pigmented, in 2 or 3 rows;
proximal cells abruptly quadrate, with scattered short-rectangular cells, 1–2:1;
medial and distal cells elongate-rhomboidal, (40–)50–60 × (10–)12–14 µm, 4–6:1, walls strongly incrassate, arranged in rows oblique to costa at 30–45° angle.
± straight to flexuose, red, red-brown, or purple.
inclined to nutant, red-purple, pyriform, 2–4(–5) mm, neck long.
14–18 µm, smooth to papillose, yellow-brown.
asexual reproduction absent.
Imbribryum miniatum
Imbribryum miniatum is a distinctive species, with dark red-purple, julaceous stems, oblique and strongly incrassate distal laminal cells, and pigmented inflated cells across the leaf base. Some collections from Yosemite National Park are remarkably large in stature, with dark green leaves that become nearly black when dry. They may represent an undescribed variety or species. Imbribryum miniatum appears to be related to several Southern Hemisphere and tropical species, including those called Bryum crassum (Australasia), B. perconcavifolium (Mexico-Central America), B. recurvulum (southeast Asia), and B. sclerodictyon (New Guinea).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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