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orthotrichum moss, rock bristle-moss

Drummond moss, strangulate orthotrichum moss

Habit Plants (1–)3–12.5 cm, light green to olive green. Plants 0.4–1 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 when dry, ovate- to oblong-lanceolate, 2–2.7 mm;

margins thick to near apex, entire;

apex acute to ± narrowly obtuse;

basal laminal cells quadrate to rectangular, walls thin, not nodose;

distal cells 7–12 µm, 1-stratose, occasionally with 2-stratose streaks, papillae 2 or 3 per cell, conic, sometimes 2-fid, size moderate;

marginal cells 2–3(–7)-stratose.

Seta

to 1.8 mm.

to 0.8 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.

immersed to 1/2 emergent, oblong-ovate to oblong, 1.1–1.8 mm, distinctly 8-ribbed, constricted below mouth when dry;

stomata immersed;

peristome single, rarely double;

prostome present;

exostome teeth 16, incurved-erect to spreading-recurved, granulose or reticulate-papillose;

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, hairy, hairs papillose.

Spores

13–21 µm.

12–16 µm.

Specialized

asexual reproduction absent.

asexual reproduction absent.

Orthotrichum rupestre

Orthotrichum strangulatum

Habitat Non-calcareous boulders and cliff faces in mesic areas of pine, spruce-fir, or aspen forests, base of trees, subalpine shade Dry, exposed, calcareous or dolomite bluffs, rock faces
Elevation low to high elevations (100-3000 m) (low to high elevations (300-9800 ft)) low to moderate elevations (150-700 m) (low to moderate elevations (500-2300 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
AL; AR; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; MD; ME; MN; MO; NC; NJ; NY; OH; OK; PA; SC; SD; TN; VA; VT; WV; MB; ON; QC
[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.)

The Orthotrichum strangulatum complex contains three species, all endemic to eastern and central North America. These three species all occur as blackish, dense tufts on dry calcareous rock and have similar sporophytes with immersed, oblong, deeply 8-ribbed capsules that are strongly constricted below the mouth when dry. The stomata are found in the distal capsule nearly covered by subsidiary cells, and the endostome segments are fragile. Although often described as one polymorphic species, here plants with 1-stratose, revolute margins are recognized as O. lescurii, those with 1-stratose, plane margins as O. parvulum, and those with multistratose leaf margins as O. strangulatum.

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

Source FNA vol. 28, p. 65. FNA vol. 28, p. 69.
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. 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. rupestre, O. shawii, O. shevockii, O. sordidum, O. speciosum, O. spjutii, O. stellatum, O. stramineum, 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. calcareum, O. lescurii subsp. porteri, O. nudum var. strangulatum, O. peckii, O. porteri, O. strangulatum var. missouricum
Name authority Schleicher ex Schwagrichen: Sp. Musc. Frond. Suppl. 1(2): 27, plate 53 [top]. (1816) P. Beauvois: Prodr. Aethéogam., 81. (1805)
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