Schistidium apocarpum
Schistidium dupretii
schistidium moss
dupret's grimmia, dupret's schistidium
1.2–12 cm, central strand weak or absent.
0.5–2 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.
erect, occasionally curved, imbricate when dry, ovate-lanceolate, rarely ovate-triangular, keeled, 1–1.6(–2) mm, 1-stratose, sometimes 2-stratose in striae distally;
margins usually recurved to near apex, sometimes unequally, rarely plane, smooth, 2-stratose, rarely 3-stratose;
apices acute or sub-obtuse;
costa percurrent or excurrent as a short, usually denticulate awn, smooth;
basal marginal cells oblate, occasionally quadrate, trigonous;
distal cells short-rectangular, rounded (ovate), or quadrate, 7–9(–11) µm wide, smooth, straight or slightly 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.
dark red-brown, rarely lighter or yellowish, short-cylindric, 0.7–1.3 mm, usually finely striate when empty;
exothecial cells isodiametric or short-elongate, often irregularly angular, thin-walled, weakly trigonous;
stomata present;
peristome patent to squarrose, 250–380 µm, red or reddish brown, densely papillose, entire or weakly perforated.
11–14(–19) µm, granulose or smooth.
8–11(–13) µm, smooth.
Schistidium apocarpum
Schistidium dupretii
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.)
The usually open, often flattish cushions or tufts, imbricate leaves, and brownish coloration are distinguishing characters of Schistidium dupretii. It is easily confused with some populations of S. confertum (see comments thereunder) and S. frigidum, both of which can form similarly colored low tufts or cushions. The rectangular proximal marginal cells and the absence of elongate exothecial cells in S. frigidum separate it.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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