Montana Field Guide

Plants: Acrocarpous (Crum & Anderson et al. 1981), growing in short, erect patches (FNA 2007), green or green with yellow tones distally, somewhat brown below (Flowers 1973). Stems simple or frequently somewhat branched (Lawton 1971), 3-5(10) mm in height (Flowers 1973); central strand present (FNA 2007).

Leaves: Contorted when dry, spreading somewhat when wet, becoming bigger above (Flowers 1973), lance-shaped (FNA 2007), narrowing from an oblong base (Flowers 1973), sometimes with slight shoulders (FNA 2007); margins smooth, mostly involute above (Flowers 1973); apex acute, flat or grooved, more or less mucronate (FNA 2007) from the short excurrent costa (Malcolm & Malcolm (2009).

Leaf Cells: Costa with dorsal stereid band larger than the ventral band, in X-section the dorsal band crescent-shaped, the guide cells present in one row, the ventral cells nearly square or slightly elongated (sometimes more so near the tip), and the hydroid strand lacking; distal medial cells nearly square to 6-sided with 2-6 papillae per lumen, the papillae 2-lobed or occasionally like tiny teeth, sometimes merged into one large papilla coating the lumen; basal cells oblong or diamond-shaped (FNA 2007), smooth, those at the attachment fine-walled and swollen (Flowers 1973).

On soil (Elliott 2016) or rock, weedy habitats, e.g. along roads or in fields (FNA 2007).

Monoicous. Perichaetial leaves similar to or slightly larger than stem leaves. Seta 3-8 mm in length (FNA 2007), more or less yellow (Flowers 1973). Capsules 0.8-1.5 mm in length, deep yellow brown to russet, finely wrinkled to strongly furrowed when dry; lid generally falling with the calyptra (Flowers 1973); calyptra hood-like (cucullate) (FNA 2007).

Vegetative reproduction by rhizoidal gemmae seemingly rare (FNA 2007).