Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Family: Bryaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Bryum argenteum Hedw. var. lanatum (P. Beauv.) Hampe
Bryum argenteum Hedw. var. majus Schwägr.
Bryum lanatum (P. Beauv.) Brid.

Bryum lanatum has silvery looking leaves. The distal cells on the leaf are chlorophyll deficient, and only the proximal half or so of the leaves are greenish. Bryum lanatum can be found in patio and sidewalk cracks and in crevices in rocks. Bryum lanatum is distinguished from Bryum argenteum by its percurrent costa. The costa stops short of the apex in B. argenteum. The costa in B. lanatum has two clear, inflated adaxial cells, a central group of stereid cells, and a differentiated abaxial epidermis in which the cells are of intermediate size. The stem has a prominent central strand.
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Bryum lanatum, also known as "silver sidewalk moss", photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 10, 2018

Bryum lanatum, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 27, 2010

Bryum lanatum, 3x macro, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 27, 2010

Bryum lanatum, 40x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 27, 2010

Bryum lanatum, 40x growth habit in patio crease, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, April 23, 2010

Bryum lanatum, 1x macro of fruiting plants, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Lake Roberts, April 26, 2010

Bryum lanatum, photomicrograph of single stem, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 16, 2018

Bryum lanatum, photomicrograph of cross section of stem with prominent central strand, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 16, 2018

Bryum lanatum, photomicrograph of cross section of leaf near base, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 16, 2018