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Ohio orthotrichum moss

orthotrichum moss, rock bristle-moss

Habit Plants 0.4–1.4 cm. Plants (1–)3–12.5 cm, light green to olive green.
Stem

leaves stiff, loosely erect-appressed when dry, narrowly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1.4–2.9 mm;

margins strongly revolute to just before apex, entire;

apex obtuse to bluntly acute, not incurved when dry;

basal laminal cells subquadrate to short-rectangular, walls thin, not nodose;

distal cells 8–10 µm, 1-stratose, lumina irregular due to uneven wall thickenings, papillae 1–2 per cell, conic, low.

leaves stiff, erect-appressed when dry, narrowly lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 2–4.5 mm;

margins recurved to narrowly revolute to near apex, entire;

apex sharply to slenderly acute;

basal laminal cells elongate to rectangular, walls thick, ± nodose;

distal cells 6–13 µm, 1-stratose, papillae 1 or 2 per cell, conic and small, or 2-fid and low.

Seta

to 1 mm.

to 1.8 mm.

Sexual condition

gonioautoicous.

gonioautoicous.

Capsule

emergent, oblong to ovate, 1–1.5 mm, 8-ribbed almost to base, ribs thin, delicate, not constricted below mouth;

stomata immersed, mid capsule, 1/2 to completely covered by subsidiary cells, cells projecting vertically over stomata, inner walls thickened;

peristome double;

prostome absent;

exostome teeth 8, splitting to 16 with age, reflexed, finely and densely papillose;

endostome often absent, or segments 8, well developed, of 1 row of cells, smooth.

immersed, emergent, or slightly exserted, usually 1/3 emergent, globose ovate, ovate-oblong, or short-oblong, 1.3–1.8 mm, slightly or distinctly 8-ribbed 1/2–2/3 length;

stomata superficial;

peristome single, rarely double;

prostome large, conspicuous, or rudimentary;

exostome teeth 16, erect or sometimes spreading-recurved when old, smooth, scattered-papillose, or coarsely papillose-granulate;

endostome segments absent, or rarely 8, rudimentary, of 1 row of cells, smooth or roughened.

Calyptra

oblong, smooth, naked or slightly hairy, hairs smooth.

oblong, smooth, hairy or rarely naked, hairs finely papillose.

Spores

15–19 µm.

13–21 µm.

Specialized

asexual reproduction absent.

asexual reproduction absent.

Vaginula

with hairs absent.

Orthotrichum ohioense

Orthotrichum rupestre

Habitat Deciduous trees in mesic hardwood forests, along streams Non-calcareous boulders and cliff faces in mesic areas of pine, spruce-fir, or aspen forests, base of trees, subalpine shade
Elevation low to moderate elevations (100-1000 m) (low to moderate elevations (300-3300 ft)) low to high elevations (100-3000 m) (low to high elevations (300-9800 ft))
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IL; IN; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MO; MS; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OK; PA; SC; TN; VA; VT; WV; NB; NS; ON; QC
[WildflowerSearch map]
from FNA
AK; AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; SD; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; NT; NU; ON; YT; South America; e Africa; Pacific Islands (New Zealand); Atlantic Islands (Canary Islands); Greenland; n Africa; e Asia (Japan); Europe; Australia
[WildflowerSearch map]
Discussion

Orthotrichum ohioense is distinguished by the 16 exostome teeth, eight rudimentary endostome segments, slightly 8-ribbed ovate capsules, leaves that are lanceolate and bluntly acute at the apices, and laminal cells smaller than 10 µm.

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

In typical form, Orthotrichum rupestre is characterized as much-branched plants in loose tufts with lanceolate leaves, apex narrowly and bluntly acute, basal cells elongate, thick-walled, and nodose, yellowish in older leaves, capsule oblong, emergent, 8-ribbed to mid capsule when old and dry, smooth or slightly 8-ribbed when mature, exostome of 16 erect teeth, coarsely papillose, and calyptra with abundant, spinulose, papillose hairs, some of which extend over the beak.

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

Source FNA vol. 28, p. 60. FNA vol. 28, p. 65.
Parent taxa Orthotrichaceae > Orthotrichum Orthotrichaceae > Orthotrichum
Sibling taxa
O. affine, O. alpestre, O. anodon, O. anomalum, O. bartramii, O. bolanderi, O. consimile, O. cupulatum, O. diaphanum, O. elegans, O. euryphyllum, O. exiguum, O. fenestratum, O. flowersii, O. gymnostomum, O. hallii, O. holzingeri, O. keeverae, O. kellmanii, O. laevigatum, O. lescurii, O. lyellii, O. norrisii, O. obtusifolium, O. pallens, O. parvulum, O. pellucidum, O. praemorsum, O. pulchellum, O. pumilum, O. pusillum, O. pycnophyllum, O. pylaisii, O. rivulare, O. rupestre, O. shawii, O. shevockii, O. sordidum, O. speciosum, O. spjutii, O. stellatum, O. stramineum, O. strangulatum, O. striatum, O. tenellum, O. underwoodii
O. affine, O. alpestre, O. anodon, O. anomalum, O. bartramii, O. bolanderi, O. consimile, O. cupulatum, O. diaphanum, O. elegans, O. euryphyllum, O. exiguum, O. fenestratum, O. flowersii, O. gymnostomum, O. hallii, O. holzingeri, O. keeverae, O. kellmanii, O. laevigatum, O. lescurii, O. lyellii, O. norrisii, O. obtusifolium, O. ohioense, O. pallens, O. parvulum, O. pellucidum, O. praemorsum, O. pulchellum, O. pumilum, O. pusillum, O. pycnophyllum, O. pylaisii, O. rivulare, O. shawii, O. shevockii, O. sordidum, O. speciosum, O. spjutii, O. stellatum, O. stramineum, O. strangulatum, O. striatum, O. tenellum, O. underwoodii
Synonyms O. citrinum, O. ohioense var. citrinum Dorcadion rupestre, O. bullatum, O. californicum, O. douglasii, O. macfaddenae, O. rupestre var. globosum, O. rupestre var. macfaddenae, O. texanum, O. texanum var. globosum
Name authority Sullivant & Lesquereux: in C. F. Austin, Musci Appalach., 169. (1870) Schleicher ex Schwagrichen: Sp. Musc. Frond. Suppl. 1(2): 27, plate 53 [top]. (1816)
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