Montana Field Guide

Plants: Pleurocarpous (Vitt 1988). Growing in open to compact tufts, usually transforming from green when young to light yellow or ochre with maturity (FNA 2014), frequently shiny (Lawton 1971); rhizoids typically numerous (Flowers 1973). Stems prostrate to upwardly inclined, or upright in compact clumps, catkin-like (with crowded, overlapping leaves), round in X-section, 2-4 cm in length (FNA 2014), branching unevenly (Lawton 1971); possessing a central strand. Branches to 4 mm, round in X-section (FNA 2014).

Stem Leaves: Flat against the stem below, overlapping strongly (FNA 2014) or spreading a little when moist (Flowers 1973), 0.5-1.5 mm in length, 0.2-0.7 mm in width, egg-shaped or approaching broadly lance-shaped, straight to curved like a sickle, seldom folded longitudinally (FNA 2014), cupped; base decurrent (Lawton 1971); margins roughly saw-toothed nearly to the bottom, flat or curved back and down below; apex usually suddenly (seldom slowly) forming a short and spreading acumen, frequently all apices on the stem pointing in the same direction; costa ca 1/2 or more the length of the leaf, sometimes nearly lacking, terminal spine lacking (FNA 2014).

Branch Leaves: Smaller and a little more slender than the stem leaves (FNA 2014), 0.8 mm in length, 0.4 mm in width, the margins saw-toothed or seldom mostly smooth, the costa occasionally with a terminal spine (Lawton 1971).

Leaf Cells: Alar cells somewhat chlorophyllous (Flowers 1973), nearly square, the alar area small and well-demarcated; laminal cells long and narrow, the basal cells similar (FNA 2014).

Plants growing in dry, open habitats are frequently yellow-brown with green around the edges. In moist, shaded habitats, they may be large and brilliant green (Flowers 1973).

Humus, rotting logs (Flowers 1973), soil and soil over rock (Elliott 2016); from dry to moist and open to somewhat canopied areas. Elevation: 0-12,140 feet (FNA 2014).

Seta somewhat reddish, 6-14 mm tall, papillae-roughened throughout or sometimes in the bottom quarter. Capsule orangish, 1-1.8 mm in length, ascending somewhat to level; cilia similar in length to that of the endostome segments (FNA 2014).