Plagiomnium venustum |
Plagiomnium floridanum |
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magnificent leafy moss, magnificent moss, plagiomnium moss |
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Leaves | green or yellow-green, crisped and contorted, distally often densely twisted around stem when dry, flat when moist, obovate or elliptic, 3–5(–7) mm; base decurrent or not; margins toothed to 2/3 leaf length or sometimes just past mid leaf or to base, teeth sharp, of 1–2(–3) cells; apex acute, acuminate, or rarely obtuse or rounded, cuspidate, cusp toothed; costa percurrent, excurrent, or rarely subpercurrent; medial laminal cells short-elongate or ± isodiametric, (17–)25–40(–45) µm, slightly smaller near margins, in longitudinal, rarely diagonal rows, strongly collenchymatous, walls not pitted; marginal cells linear, in (3–)4–5 rows. |
dark green or yellow-green, crisped and contorted when dry, flat when moist, elliptic, 3–5 mm; base narrowly decurrent; margins toothed from about mid leaf to apex, teeth sharp, of 1 (or 2) cells; apex acute or acuminate, cuspidate, cusp sometimes toothed; costa percurrent or short-excurrent; medial laminal cells ± isodiametric or short-elongate, 20–30 µm, slightly smaller near margins, occasionally in longitudinal and diagonal rows, strongly collenchymatous, walls not pitted; marginal cells linear, in 2–4 rows. |
Seta | 1–4(–6), yellow, reddish at base, 3–4 cm. |
single, yellow or brown, 2–3 cm. |
Sexual condition | synoicous. |
dioicous. |
Capsule | horizontal to pendent, oblong, 3–4.5 mm, neck distinct, brown, often wrinkled; operculum conic-apiculate. |
pendent, cylindric, 1.5–2.5 mm, neck not distinct; operculum conic. |
Spores | 34–40 µm. |
25–30 µm. |
Erect | stems 2–4(–6) cm, not dendroid; sterile stems absent. |
stems 1–3 cm, not dendroid; sterile stems to 3(–4) cm. |
Plagiomnium venustum |
Plagiomnium floridanum |
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Phenology | Capsules mature late spring–early summer. | Capsules mature spring. |
Habitat | Humus, soil, sand, logs, stumps, tree bases, rock, concrete, well-drained sites, forests | Soil over limestone |
Elevation | low to moderate elevations | low elevations |
Distribution |
AK; CA; ID; MT; OR; WA; BC
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FL; GA; MS |
Discussion | Plagiomnium venustum is the only species of the genus that lacks sterile stems. It is a common western species that forms large, handsome mats or turfs in many northwest coastal forests, especially noticeable on tree bases. Sporophytes are common. Another distinctive feature of P. venustum is the presence of dark and mammillose stomatal guard cells in the necks of the capsules. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
See discussion for this species under 3. Plagiomnium cuspidatum. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 28, p. 235. | FNA vol. 28, p. 233. |
Parent taxa | Mniaceae > Plagiomnium | Mniaceae > Plagiomnium |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Mnium venustum | |
Name authority | (Mitten) T. J. Koponen: Ann. Bot. Fenn. 5: 146. (1968) | R. E. Wyatt & Odrzykoski: Bryologist 115: 531, figs. 1, 2 [right]. (2012) |
Web links |