Plants of the Gila Wilderness

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

Bryum argenteum Hedwig

Family: Bryaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
None

Bryum argenteum is much more common in the rest of the country than it is in the Gila. Here, Bryum lanatum is the more common silvery Bryum. The silver color is really due to the loss of chlorophyll from the distal half of the leaves as they age on the stem. In Bryum argenteum, the costa does not reach the apex as it does in Bryum lanatum. The leaves of Bryum argenteum are also less elongate than those of Bryum lanatum.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Bryum argenteum, photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, West Fork of the Gila River, November 6, 2011



Bryum argenteum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, West Fork of the Gila River, November 6, 2011



Bryum argenteum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, West Fork of the Gila River, November 6, 2011


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