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orthotrichum moss, rock bristle-moss

anomalous bristle-moss, orthotrichum moss

Habit Plants (1–)3–12.5 cm, light green to olive green. Plants to 0.5 cm.
Stem

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.

leaves stiff, erect-appressed when dry, elongate-lanceolate, lanceolate, or narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 2–3.8 mm;

margins recurved-revolute to near apex, entire;

apex acute, bluntly acute, or narrowly obtuse;

basal laminal cells long-rectangular to rectangular, walls thin, sometimes slightly nodose;

distal cells 9–14 µm, 1-stratose, papillae 1–3 per cell, conic, small.

Seta

to 1.8 mm.

1–3 mm.

Sexual condition

gonioautoicous.

gonioautoicous.

Capsule

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.

exserted, oblong-cylindric to cylindric, 1.8–2.4 mm, usually 16-ribbed, 8 long ribs to mid capsule or beyond, 8 alternating short ribs, constricted below mouth when dry;

stomata immersed;

peristome usually single;

prostome usually present;

exostome teeth 16, rarely connate in 8 pairs, erect or spreading, finely horizontally striate proximally, vertically striate distally;

endostome segments absent or rarely 8, not well developed, of 1 row of cells, short, smooth.

Calyptra

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

oblong-conic, smooth, hairs few to many, papillose.

Spores

13–21 µm.

11–15 µm.

Specialized

asexual reproduction absent.

asexual reproduction absent.

Orthotrichum rupestre

Orthotrichum anomalum

Habitat Non-calcareous boulders and cliff faces in mesic areas of pine, spruce-fir, or aspen forests, base of trees, subalpine shade Rock, especially limestone, base of trees, dead branches, dry rock faces in canyons
Elevation low to high elevations (100-3000 m) (low to high elevations (300-9800 ft)) low to high elevations (0-3000 m) (low to high elevations (0-9800 ft))
Distribution
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]
from FNA
AK; AZ; CO; CT; IA; ID; IL; IN; ME; MI; MN; MT; ND; NM; NY; OH; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; NT; ON; QC; SK; YT; Europe; Asia; Greenland; West Indies (Haiti); Mexico (Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí); n Africa
[WildflowerSearch map]
Discussion

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.)

Orthotrichum anomalum has exserted capsules that are slightly constricted below the mouth and 1-stratose leaves. The most useful character in distinguishing this species is the exserted capsule with eight long ribs alternating with eight shorter ones. Stomata are found in the proximal half of the capsule.

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

Source FNA vol. 28, p. 65. FNA vol. 28, p. 51.
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. 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
O. affine, O. alpestre, O. anodon, 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. rupestre, O. shawii, O. shevockii, O. sordidum, O. speciosum, O. spjutii, O. stellatum, O. stramineum, O. strangulatum, O. striatum, O. tenellum, O. underwoodii
Synonyms Dorcadion rupestre, O. bullatum, O. californicum, O. douglasii, O. macfaddenae, O. rupestre var. globosum, O. rupestre var. macfaddenae, O. texanum, O. texanum var. globosum O. anomalum var. americanum, O. canadense, O. consimile subsp. anomaloides
Name authority Schleicher ex Schwagrichen: Sp. Musc. Frond. Suppl. 1(2): 27, plate 53 [top]. (1816) Hedwig: Sp. Musc. Frond., 162. (1801)
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