Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Pylaisia selwynii (Kindberg) Crum, Steere & L.E. Anderson

Family: Hypnaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
None

Pylaisia selwynii grows on tree trunks-- in the Gila it can be found at least on the trunks of Quercus gambelii (Gambel Oak) and Juniperus deppeana (Alligator Juniper). Although it is a pleurocarp, mostly one sees the erect branches with tips that Crum and Anderson describe as "neatly curled." There are many quadrate alar cells along the margins, usually 15-25. The mid lamina cells are mostly up to about 6 times long as wide. The endostome of the capsule is adherent for part of its length to the exostome, and split into two sections usually in the free tips. Pylaisia selwynii is found at middle elevation in the Gila. We found Pylaisia selwynii on the 3 Rivers/Fall Creek trail north of Tularosa, NM, before we found it in the Gila. Those pix can be found on the Pylaisia selwynii 3 Rivers page.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Pylaisia selwynii, 2x macro of dry habit, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila National Forest, Black Range, Tadpole Ridge Trail 232 near Hwy 15, July 19, 2015



Pylaisia selwynii, 4x macro of dry habit with neatly curled branch tips, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila National Forest, Black Range, Tadpole Ridge Trail 232 near Hwy 15, July 19, 2015



Pylaisia selwynii, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila National Forest, Black Range, Tadpole Ridge Trail 232 near Hwy 15, July 19, 2015



Pylaisia selwynii, 4x macro of erect capsules, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila National Forest, Black Range, Tadpole Ridge Trail 232 near Hwy 15, July 19, 2015



Pylaisia selwynii, 40x reflected light photomicrograph of capsule, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila National Forest, Black Range, Tadpole Ridge Trail 232 near Hwy 15, July 19, 2015



Pylaisia selwynii, 400x photomicrograph of peristome highlighting the endostome partially adherent to the exostome teeth, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila National Forest, Black Range, Tadpole Ridge Trail 232 near Hwy 15, July 19, 2015


Back to the Index