Schistidium apocarpum
Schistidium liliputanum
schistidium moss
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.
curved, occasionally erect when dry, narrowly ovate-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, keeled distally, 1.3–2.1 mm, 1-stratose, occasionally 2-stratose in striae distally;
margins recurved to near apex, often unequally, smooth or weakly denticulate, 2-stratose;
apices acute or somewhat obtuse;
costa percurrent or excurrent as a long, often flexuose, spinulose-denticulate or denticulate awn, abaxial surface smooth or weakly papillose;
basal marginal cells usually short-rectangular, with transverse walls thicker than longitudinal walls;
distal cells short-rectangular or rounded, 7–9 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.
yellowish brown or brown, short-cylindric, cupulate, or somewhat campanulate, 0.4–0.8 mm;
exothecial cells oblate or isodiametric, often quadrate, thin-walled;
stomata present;
peristome patent to squarrose, 200–350 µm, brownish or pale yellow, papillose, perforated.
11–14(–19) µm, granulose or smooth.
10–12 µm, finely papillose.
Schistidium apocarpum
Schistidium liliputanum
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 liliputanum is distinguished from other species of the genus by the combination of its small size, narrowly ovate-lanceolate leaves, the often flexuose, spinulose-denticulate and long awns, and the leaf basal marginal laminal cells with transverse walls thicker than longitudinal walls. The tiny, sometimes campanulate capsules, often well hidden in the perichaetial leaves, are also useful when identifying S. liliputanum.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Flora NW
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