Mosses of New Mexico Outside of the Gila Wilderness

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

Pseudocrossidium obtusulum (Lindberg) Crum

Family: Pottiaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Barbula platyneura Müll. Hal. & Kindb.
Desmatodon ellesmerensis Brass.
Pseudocrossidium revolutum (Brid.) R.H. Zander var. obtusulum (Lindb.) B.C. Tan, R.H. Zander & J. Taylor

Pseudocrossidium obtusulum is an arid, low elevation acrocarpous moss. It has tightly revolute margins with inflated, clear cells within the coiled part. The apex is obtuse with a short mucro. There are 4-6 guide cells at midleaf, in contrast to P. replicatum which as 2-3 guide cells at midleaf. The distal cells are pluripapillose.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 4x macro of dry clump, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf lateral view, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 400x photomicrograph of distal leaf cross section, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 400x photomicrograph of costa with 4-6 guide cells near midleaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 400x photomicrograph of revolute leaf margin with inflated clear cells inside revolute part, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013



Pseudocrossidium obtusulum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of stem with central strand, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Eddy Cty., Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, April 9, 2013


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