Isothecium myosuroides
Isothecium alopecuroides
isothecium moss, slender mouse-tail moss, tree moss, variable moss
isothecium moss
with stipe short to absent, secondary stems 2–4 cm, not julaceous when dry, irregularly branched, sometimes close, branches arching downward, branches of secondary system sharp-tipped, flagelliform branches frequently present, 2–5 cm, attenuate, with narrower smaller leaves;
pseudoparaphyllia foliose, sometimes toothed, often blunt and broad.
with stipe short or not evident, secondary stems 1–5 cm, julaceous when dry, irregularly branched, branches of equal length (1–2 cm), flagelliform branches absent;
pseudoparaphyllia foliose, pointed or blunt.
1–2 cm.
0.8–1.2 cm.
1–1.5 mm.
2–2.4 mm].
stem leaves broadly or narrowly triangular;
margins nearly entire;
apex sometimes attenuate; ecostate or costa present;
alar cells barely differentiated, region small, to 1/10 leaf length.
stem leaves broadly to narrowly triangular;
margins weakly or not toothed;
apex attenuate, sometimes secund;
costa short or ecostate;
alar cells weakly differentiated, region small, to 1/10 leaf length.
leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate;
margins toothed throughout, most strongly in apiculus;
apex attenuate;
costa to 2/3 leaf length;
alar cells usually shorter, except in shoot decurrent portion, region well defined, small, sometimes excavate, at marginal insertion.
leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate;
margins entire, slightly toothed in apex;
apex blunt;
costa to 2/3 leaf length;
alar cells rounded to 4–6-sided, pigmented, region often excavate, confined to base just distal to marginal insertion.
Isothecium myosuroides
Isothecium alopecuroides
The eastern representation of Isothecium myosuroides is clearly the same as the European species, but the relationship of western North American material is unclear. K. Ryall et al. (2005) supported this conclusion with molecular data, but some California specimens identified as this species suggest that further analysis is necessary to clarify their identity. Isothecium myosuroides, although showing some variability, is far more uniform than I. stoloniferum, and the infrequency of sporophytes in the former suggests that cloned populations are frequent. The stems of I. myosuroides are creeping and radiculose.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The description here of Isothecium alopecuroides is based on European specimens. The species has been reported from Newfoundland by B. H. Allen (1983b). The single specimen from Ontario is from Thunder Bay, collected by I. Brodo; it is scant and poorly developed, consisting of short secondary shoots. The specimens were correctly identified by R. R. Ireland and Allen and reported by the latter (Allen 1982). Able collectors have explored the two areas but have not rediscovered it. Isothecium alopecuroides is a phytogeographic puzzle and unlikely to have been introduced through human activity. Further collections are needed to demonstrate that it survives; its presence in North America seems doubtful. The primary stem leaves are small; the branchlet leaves are imbricate to subjulaceous when dry and abruptly tapering to the apex.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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