Tetraplodon mnioides
Tetraplodon pallidus
entireleaf nitrogen moss, slender cruet-moss
pale nitrogen moss
oblong-ovate, concave, 1–2 × 3–5 mm;
margins entire;
apex abruptly subulate;
costa vanishing in subula;
distal laminal cells rectangular to oblong-hexagonal, 20 × 35 µm.
ovate, concave, 2–3.5 mm;
margins entire or nearly so;
apex acuminate;
costa ending in subula;
distal laminal cells hexagonal, 30 µm.
stramineous, usually dark red with age, 1–5 cm.
clear pale yellow to stramineous, 1–2 cm.
autoicous.
autoicous.
not cleistocarpous, red, dark or black with age, long-ovate;
hypophysis somewhat wider than urn distally;
stomata over whole of hypophysis;
operculum bluntly conic.
not cleistocarpous, clear pale yellow to stramineous, long-ovate;
hypophysis often narrower than urn, rarely broader;
stomata confined to distal hypophysis;
operculum bluntly conic.
conic-mitrate.
conic-mitrate or cucullate.
9–12 µm, smooth or slightly papillose.
8 µm, smooth.
Tetraplodon mnioides
Tetraplodon pallidus
Tetraplodon mnioides is much more common than other species of the genus and is readily distinguished; the plants differ from those of T. angustatus by their larger tufts and longer sporophytes, which are dark red, becoming black with age. Sterile plants of T. mnioides differ from those of T. angustatus by their oblong-ovate, abruptly subulate leaves with entire margins, whereas those of T. angustatus are oblong-lanceolate, gradually subulate, and serrate. The distal laminal cell walls of T. mnioides are rather thin.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Tetraplodon pallidus and T. paradoxus often grow intermixed and can be distinguished by several characters (W. C. Steere 1977b). Tetraplodon pallidus has a large operculum that falls off exposing a broad, square-shaped mouth and well-developed, reflexed teeth, and its distal laminal cell walls are thin.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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