Status: Native
Synonyms:
Grimmia tenerrima Renauld & Cardot
Grimmia alpestris is an upper elevation moss that grows adherent to boulders in dense, short tufts. The leaves have hairpoints that are about 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the lamina. The basal cells are short rectangular and have thickened walls. The lamina is incurved, with the proximal portion one stratose and the distal portion 2 or 3 stratose. The laminal cells are bulging. The costa has 4 guide cells at insertion, with the outer two in contact with the epidermal cells. We found Grimmia alpestris just below the treeline on Wheeler peak at about 11,400 feet elevation. Many thanks to Roxanne Hastings for confirming this ID for us!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Grimmia alpestris, 3x macro dry, photo Russ Kleinman, Kirsten Romig & Karen Blisard, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak trail, August 23, 2014
Grimmia alpestris, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kirsten Romig & Karen Blisard, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak trail, August 23, 2014
Grimmia alpestris, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kirsten Romig & Karen Blisard, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak trail, August 23, 2014
Grimmia alpestris, 400x photomicrograph of leaf cross section showing costa with 4 guide cells with the outer 2 in contact with epidermal cells, photo Russ Kleinman, Kirsten Romig & Karen Blisard, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak trail, August 23, 2014
Grimmia alpestris, 200x photomicrograph of leaf cross sections showing incurved lamina with erect margins, photo Russ Kleinman, Kirsten Romig & Karen Blisard, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak trail, August 23, 2014
Grimmia alpestris, 400x photomicrograph of leaf base showing thickened short rectangular basal cells, photo Russ Kleinman, Kirsten Romig & Karen Blisard, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak trail, August 23, 2014
Grimmia alpestris, 400x photomicrograph of distal leaf cross section with bistratose lamina, photo Russ Kleinman, Kirsten Romig & Karen Blisard, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak trail, August 23, 2014
Grimmia alpestris, 400x photomicrograph of distal leaf cross section with bistratose lamina, photo Russ Kleinman, Kirsten Romig & Karen Blisard, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak trail, August 23, 2014
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