Schistidium apocarpum
Schistidium atrofuscum
schistidium moss
1.2–12 cm, central strand weak or absent.
0.6–2.5 cm, central strand distinct.
erect or curved, rarely (falcate-) secund when dry, ovate-lanceolate, sharply keeled distally, (1.3–)1.7–2.5(–3.2) mm, 1-stratose or rarely 2-stratose in striae distally;
margins usually recurved throughout or to just before the apex, usually denticulate distally, 1 or 2-stratose;
apices acute or sub-obtuse;
costa percurrent or excurrent as a smooth or weakly denticulate, occasionally decurrent awn, abaxial surface often papillose;
basal marginal cells usually quadrate;
distal laminal cells mostly short-rectangular, 8–10 µm wide, smooth, sinuose.
usually erect, occasionally slightly curved, sometimes towards stem when dry, ovate-triangular to ovate-lanceolate, moderately keeled distally, 1.2–2.1 mm, with 2-stratose patches or striae or 2-stratose distally;
margins weakly recurved to just before the apex, distal half often plane, proximally often more broadly recurved on one side of leaf, 2- or 3-stratose;
apices obtuse or subacute;
costa sub-percurrent or percurrent, rarely excurrent as a tiny awn, smooth;
basal marginal cells quadrate with transverse walls sometimes thicker than longitudinal walls;
distal laminal cells usually rounded or short-rectangular, 6–9 µm wide, smooth, weakly sinuose.
autoicous.
autoicous.
dark red or brown, short-cylindric, 0.7–1.3 mm;
exothecial cells usually quadrate, sometimes mixed with short-elongate or oblate cells, thin-walled, usually trigonous;
stomata present;
peristome patent or erect, often twisted, 350–600(–700) µm, red, densely papillose, usually perforated.
orange- or red-brown, often yellowish, short cylindric or cupulate, 0.75–1 mm;
exothecial cells primarily elongate mixed with patches of irregularly angular isodiametric cells, walls sometimes unevenly thickened and curved;
stomata absent;
peristome patent, very short, 30–100 µm, or rudimentary, orange or orange-red, densely papillose, strongly perforated and unevenly margined.
11–14(–19) µm, granulose or smooth.
11–15(–19) µm, granulose or smooth.
Schistidium apocarpum
Schistidium atrofuscum
Although H. H. Blom (1996) considered Schistidium apocarpum to be restricted in the flora area to the eastern portions of North America, it is more widespread and scattered across the continent. The denticulate leaf margins, papillose abaxial costal surface, short-cylindrical capsules, and the thin-walled, often evenly quadrate exothecial cells are distinguishing characters. The long peristome teeth are also useful in identifying S. apocarpum. In good condition the peristome can only be confused with that of S. trichodon, which differs in the darker, often black color of its plants, the peristome teeth often forming a dome, and the cylindrical capsules that retain the columella.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Schistidium atrofuscum may be the rarest North American species of the genus. It is characterized by its dark brown or nearly black, compact cushions or tufts, mostly erect, moderately keeled leaves, often 2-stratose distal lamina, and the short or rudimentary, strongly perforated peristome. G. N. Jones (1933) listed this species from Tennessee, but that has not been confirmed.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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