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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Introduction to
Moss ID Links ID1 (Intro to Plants) ID2 (Bryophytes) ID3 (Life Cycle) ID4 (Divsions) ID5 (Books & Gear) ID6 (Leaves) ID7 (Cells) ID8 (Sporophytes) ID9 (peculiar Sphagnum) ID10 (peculiar Atrichum) ID11 (peculiar Fissidens) ID12. (Key Overview) ID13 (Platygyrium start) ID14 (Platygyrium finish) ID15 (Funaria start) ID16 (Funaria finish) ID17 (Orthotrichum start) ID18 (Orthotrichum finish) ID19 (OH Atlas & FQAI) ID20. (Plag. cusp.) ID21 (Ambl. vari., Anom. Atte.) ID22 (Plat. repe., Ento. sedu.) ID23 (Cera. purp., Anom. rost.) ID24 (Clim. amer., Thui. deli.) ID25 (Atri angu.) |
INTRODUCTION TO MOSS IDENTIFICATION
18. Brick wall moss, concluded.
A young sporophyte is covered by a what seems to be a little hat, called the calyptra.
(Technically, the calyptra isn't part of the sporophyte, as
it actually consists of maternal gametophyte tissue, a remnant of
the egg-containing archegonium.) The calyptra protects the sporangium
(capsule) from drying out as it develops. If you're lucky enough
to have calyptrae (a mixed blessing, since at this early stage in
development the generally more useful peristome isn't available yet)
its shape and size can be helpful.
![]() This moss's calytpra is shaped like a stocking cap --not split in any way. It is mitrate.
Moreover, its surface is longitudinally folded, or plicate. Two somewhat similar moss genera
--both primarily tree-growing, small tufted acrocarps with
ovate leaves and immersed capsules --are Orthotrichum and Ulota. An obvious difference is that, when dry, Orthotrichum leaves are not or only slightly contorted when dry, whereas Ulota leaves are very much twisted and contorted.
![]() Here the moss is dry, and apears not much contorted. That points to Orthotrichum.
A much less obvious trait, rarely used except in Orthotrichum
where it is key to separating species, involves stomates. Stomates
are familiar to plant physiologists as they constitute pores,
prominent on the undersurfaces of the leaves of vascular plants, that
allow carbon dioxide to enter and oxygen to exit. Since moss leaves are
one cell thick, there is no role for stomates there, but some moss capsules
have them. The following is a picture of a young capsule, slightly
squashed, viewed at 40X, showing a few stomates (and the operculum).
![]() It's not the simple presence or absence of stomates that is diagnostic; it's whether they occur level with the uppermost cell layer (in which case the stomates are "superficial" ) or instead are sunk in a crater-like pit formed by the surrounding cells (immersed stomata). Like the procedure for checking cell papillae, stomate position is best detected by slowly focussing down, and noting whether the stomate and surrounding cells become sharp simultaneously (showing the stomate to be superficial) or instead the stomate snaps into view long afterwards (immersed). ![]() ![]()
This moss has sunken stomates, additional evidence that it is an Orthotrichum (although a few of the less comon OH species do have have superficial stomata). Additional details about the stomates and the leaves reveal this to be O. pussilum. ![]() For
habitat and range, Crum says "Bark of trees. Throughout the United
States" Apparently the moss didn't read the book! Next door however
there is a big sugar maple the trunk of which is densely
occupied by this species. Perhaps the presence of the nearby
population
in its optimal habitat maintains the population on
the wall. Orthotrichum pusillum, known from 20 Ohio 88 counties, is the 5th most comon Orthotrichum (O. pumilum ranks highest, in 43 counties).
Next: Catalog and Atlas of OH mosses. |