Mosses of New Mexico Outside of the Gila Wilderness

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

Distichium capillaceum (Hedwig) Bruch & Schimper

Family: Ditrichaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Cynontodium capillaceum Hedwig

Distichium capillaceum is a distinctive moss with a sheathing basal portion and a spreading limb that is almost all costa with just a cell or two of lamina at the margin. The leaves are arranged opposite each other on the stems, an arrangement known as "distichous." The costa is roughened/papillose on the abaxial side. Distichium capillaceum was found at high elevation under conifer roots at a seep.
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Distichium capillaceum, 3x macro of habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 3x macro of habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 3x macro of habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 3x macro of distichous stem, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 3x macro of distichous stem, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 40x dark field photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 40x dark field photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 400x photomicrograph at midleaf with roughened/papillose abaxial costa, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 400x photomicrograph at leaf base, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 200x photomicrograph at leaf apex rough, all roughened/papillose costa, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 400x photomicrograph of stem cross section with central strand, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014



Distichium capillaceum, 400x photomicrograph of two leaf cross sections, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Sangre de Cristo Mtns., Carson Nat Forest, Taos Ski Valley (Twining/Kachina Road), July 24, 2014


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