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A Torncap Moss - Bucklandiella macounii
Other Names:
A Torncap Moss,
Racomitrium brevipes
General Description
Plants: Growing in uncrowded clumps of erect shoots, somewhat russet above, black, often with the leaves fallen, below. Stems 5-10 cm; no central strand present (FNA 2007).
Leaves: Flat against the stem and straight when dry, spreading when wet, 2.7-3.5 mm in length, 0.5-.75 mm in width, lance-shaped, folded longitudinally above; margins slightly turned back and down; awn short and finely toothed; costa grooved above, convex on the abaxial leaf surface (FNA 2007).
Leaf Cells: Apical and marginal cells 2-layers thick, the upper laminal cells in 1 layer; basal laminal cells at the margin quadrangular, short, with fine walls, not transparent, arranged in several rows; basal laminal cells adjacent to the costa long and narrow with very thick and slightly knobby walls; medial laminal cells with very thick, wavy walls, quadrangular, short to long (FNA 2007).
Diagnostic Characteristics
The similar Grimmia leibergii has a costa semi-circular in X-section rather than circular, thick-walled basal marginal cells rather than thin-walled, and awns that frequently extend down and along the leaf margins instead of an awn that is not decurrent (FNA 2007).
Range Comments
North American Range
AK, BC s to WA and ID (FNA 2007). Known in Montana from Flathead and Glacier Counties (Elliott 2016).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 4
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Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Dry stones. Elevation: low to medium (FNA 2007).
Reproductive Characteristics
Dioicous. Fruit produced erratically. Seta with a swan-like neck, 3-4 mm tall. Capsule carried beyond the perichaetial leaves, ochre; peristome teeth divided and with openings, orange, bearing papillae above. Calyptra unseen (FNA 2007).
Gemmae not present (FNA 2007).
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Elliott, J.C. and A.K. Pipp. 2018. A Checklist of Montana Mosses (1880-2018). Updated 3 January, 2020. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana. 73 pp.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 2007. Flora of North America North of Mexico. Volume 27. Bryophytes: Mosses, Part 1. Oxford University Press, Inc., NY. xxi + 713 pp.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Elliot, J. C. 1993. Second checklist of Montana mosses. Unpublished report. U.S. Forest Service, Region 1. Missoula, MT. 45 pp.
Lawton, E. 1971. Keys for the Identification of the Mosses on the Pacific Northwest. Reprinted from 'Moss Flora of the Pacific Northwest'. Published as Supplement No. 2 of the Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory. Nichinan, Miyazaki, Japan. 66 pp.- Lawton, E. 1971. Moss Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Hattori Botanical Laboratory. Japan: Yamabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. 362 pages plus appendices.
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