Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Family: Ditrichaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
None

Ceratodon purpureus is a common moss most easily recognized by the slit purple hood topping the capsules at an angle. It is tall and pointed. The mature capsules have several ribs most easily visible under magnification. Ceratodon purpureus grows on soil. Ceratodon purpureus is very polymorphic, can take on many different appearances, and can mimic many other mosses (e.g. Didymodon!) The leaves are generally acute and recurved, with small isodiametric to short rectangular cells.
Please click on an image for a larger file.

Ceratodon purpureus, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, August 22, 2012

Ceratodon purpureus, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 26, 2010

Ceratodon purpureus, 3x macro of leaves with single costa and no hairpoint, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 26, 2010

Ceratodon purpureus, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, North Fork of Little Walnut Creek, February 12, 2012

Ceratodon purpureus, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, North Fork of Little Walnut Creek, February 12, 2012

Ceratodon purpureus, 3x macro of capsule with calyptra, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 26, 2010

Ceratodon purpureus, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman & Bill Norris, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010

Ceratodon purpureus, closeup of stems, photo Russ Kleinman & Bill Norris, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010

Ceratodon purpureus, 100x photomicrograph of peristome, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Bill Norris, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010

Ceratodon purpureus, 100x photomicrograph of operculum, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Bill Norris, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010

Ceratodon purpureus, 400x photomicrograph of leaf near apex, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Bill Norris, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010

Ceratodon purpureus, 400x photomicrograph of leaf cross section, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, April 24, 2011

Ceratodon purpureus, 400x photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, February 8, 2012

Ceratodon purpureus, 400x photomicrograph of stem cross section with central strand, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, May 1, 2018

Ceratodon purpureus, 200x photomicrograph of developing archegonium, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Meadow Creek, August 7, 2012

Ceratodon purpureus, 600x photomicrograph of cells at midleaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 20, 2017