Orthotrichum alpestre |
Orthotrichum obtusifolium |
|
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orthotrichum moss |
blunt-leaf bristle-moss, obtuse-leaf aspen moss |
|
Habit | Plants 0.5–2.3 cm. | Plants 0.3–1.4 cm. |
Stem | leaves loosely erect-appressed and ± loosely twisted when dry, elongate- to ovate-lanceolate, 2–3.5 mm; margins revolute to below apex, entire; apex sharply acute, sometimes acuminate, cuspidate, or apiculate; basal laminal cells long-rectangular to rectangular, walls thin, sometimes nodose at insertion; distal cells 9–14 µm, 1-stratose, papillae 2 or 3 per cell, conic or 2-fid, large. |
leaves erect-appressed when dry, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 1.4–2 mm; margins erect-incurved, entire; apex obtuse; basal laminal cells ± rectangular, walls thick, not nodose; distal cells 13–18(–20) µm, 1-stratose, papillae 1 per cell, conic, large. |
Seta | to 1.4 mm. |
0.5 mm. |
Sexual condition | gonioautoicous. |
dioicous. |
Capsule | 1/2–3/4 emergent, sometimes almost exserted, oblong-ovate when mature, oblong to short-cylindric when old and dry, to 1.4 mm, strongly 8-ribbed 2/3 to entire length, constricted below mouth when dry; stomata immersed, 1/2 covered by subsidiary cells, cells projecting, inner walls thickened; peristome double; prostome absent; exostome teeth 8, reflexed, densely and evenly papillose, striate-reticulate distally; endostome segments 8 or 16, well developed, of 1 or 2 rows of cells, smooth or finely roughened. |
1/2 emergent, oblong-cylindric, 1.6–2 mm, strongly 8-ribbed to base; stomata superficial; peristome double; prostome absent; exostome teeth 8, reflexed, evenly papillose, sometimes irregularly striate distally; endostome segments 8, well developed, of 2 rows of cells, smooth. |
Calyptra | oblong, smooth, ± hairy, hairs strongly papillose. |
short-conic, papillose, naked, not plicate. |
Spores | 10–15 µm. |
20–25 µm. |
Specialized | asexual reproduction on leaves. |
asexual reproduction by gemmae on both surfaces of leaf. |
Orthotrichum alpestre |
Orthotrichum obtusifolium |
|
Habitat | Rock, trees, base of trees, moist crevices of large boulders, moist pine and deciduous forests | Trunks of Populus, Juniperus, aspen, base of scrub oaks, river bottoms |
Elevation | high elevations (2100-3000 m) (high elevations (6900-9800 ft)) | low to high elevations (10-2000 m) (low to high elevations (0-6600 ft)) |
Distribution |
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MI; MT; NM; NV; OR; SD; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; NL; ON; YT; Asia; Greenland; Europe; Pacific Islands (New Zealand)
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AK; AZ; CA; CO; IA; ID; MD; ME; MI; MN; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NM; NY; OR; PA; SD; UT; VT; WA; WI; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; NT; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; Europe; Asia
|
Discussion | Orthotrichum alpestre is distinguished by the highly papillose distal laminal cells; slightly twisted, sharply pointed leaves; calyptra with papillose hairs; absence of prostome; and papillose or papillose-reticulate exostome. The endostome is always present in mature capsules and, because of enlarged cross walls, has a shiny appearance. The capsule is usually oblong and strangulate, although the shape depends on age. In some specimens, the capsule is short-cylindric and not much constricted below the mouth. The stomata are found just below mid capsule. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Orthotrichum obtusifolium is a pronounced xerophyte growing only in pioneer situations. This species might be confused with O. exiguum, O. flowersii, and O. gymnostomum, but these species do not have distal laminal cells with one papilla per cell as do those of O. obtusifolium. In addition, O. exiguum and O. flowersii have reflexed to revolute leaf margins, and both are autoicous. Orthotrichum gymnostomum has distinctly involute leaf margins and concave leaves and is dioicous. The capsule stomata of O. obtusifolium are found at or beyond mid capsule. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 28, p. 50. | FNA vol. 28, p. 59. |
Parent taxa | Orthotrichaceae > Orthotrichum | Orthotrichaceae > Orthotrichum |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | O. alpestre var. majus, O. alpestre var. watsonii, O. occidentale, O. watsonii | Nyholmiella obtusifolia, O. inflexum |
Name authority | Hornschuch ex Bruch & Schimper: Bryol. Europ. 3: 75, plate 213. (1849) | Bridel: Muscol. Recent. 2(2): 23. (1801) |
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