Schistidium apocarpum
Schistidium frisvollianum
schistidium moss
1.2–12 cm, central strand weak or absent.
0.5–2(–3.5) 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.
erect or slightly curved when dry, ovate-lanceolate to ovate-triangular, sharply keeled distally, 1.3–2.4 mm, 1-stratose;
margins usually recurved to apex, often sharply denticulate distally, 1-stratose or 2-stratose;
apices acute;
costa excurrent as a coarsely denticulate, usually decurrent, straight or flexuose awn, rarely percurrent, abaxial surface of the awn usually papillose;
basal marginal cells rectangular, quadrate, or ovate;
distal laminal cells quadrate or short-rectangular, 8–11 µm wide, papillose, strongly sinuose often with pale yellowish walls.
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-brown or yellow when old, sometimes red-brown, ovoid-cylindric, 0.65–1.1 mm, occasionally striate;
exothecial cells isodiametric or oblate, often somewhat angular, thin-walled;
stomata present;
peristome patent revolute, 220–330 µm, red, densely papillose, usually weakly perforated.
11–14(–19) µm, granulose or smooth.
8–11 µm, granulose or nearly smooth.
Schistidium apocarpum
Schistidium frisvollianum
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 frisvollianum is the most ornamented species of the genus in the flora area. Its strongly papillose lamina, decurrent and usually spiny-denticulate awns, and denticulate leaf margins combine with its distinctive orange-brown color to make it an easily recognizable taxon. See the comments under 5. Schistidium boreale regarding differences among the North American species of Schistidium with papillose laminal cells.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Flora NW
MI Flora
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
