Status: Native
Synonyms:
Polytrichum apiculatum Kindb.
Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw. var. waghornei Kindb.
Polytrichum juniperinum is a widespread moss with stiff green leaves that are reddish brown and more appressed to the stem when dry. The leaves have a short reddish brown awn. The leaf is rather complex for a moss. The hyaline leaf edges fold over to cover several parallel photosynthetic plates (lamellae) that are one cell thick and several cells high and run longitudinally along the leaf surface. The capsule when mature is reddish brown, sharply four angled, and constricted at the base. The calyptra is very hairy.
The anatomy of the Polytrichaceae is among the most interesting of all mosses. The four angled capsule has a column at the center, like most mosses, called the columella. Unlike other mosses, the end of the columella expands into a membrane that butts up against the 64 small, blunt peristome teeth. This membrane is called the epiphragm. When the epiphragm is bumped, it sifts and ejects spores between its surface and the peristome teeth like a salt or pepper shaker.
The stem anatomy is interesting because it is possible to see both the hydroids (water conducting cells) at the very center of the stem as well as leptoids (nutrient conducting cells) immediately surrounding the hydroids. The larger cells around the leptoids are parenchymal cells, and the stereids make up the outer cortex.
The seta (stem to the capsule) also has hydroids and leptoids to nourish the sporophyte as it develops the spores inside the capsule.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Polytrichum juniperinum (male plant), photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 3x macro of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 3x macro of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 3x macro of capsule with calyptra, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 3x macro of capsule with operculum, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 40x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 200x photomicrograph of a single lamella with thick walled pyriform apical cells, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 200x photomicrograph of cross section of one leaf edge folding over lamellae, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 200x photomicrograph of cross section of both leaf edges folding over lamellae in nearly tubular part of leaf near apex, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 14, 2010
Polytrichum juniperinum, 100x photomicrograph of cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Mogollon Mtns., Willow Creek, April 30, 2011
Polytrichum juniperinum, 200x photomicrograph of cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Mogollon Mtns., Bursum Camp, April 28, 2012
Polytrichum juniperinum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Mogollon Mtns., Bursum Camp, April 28, 2012
Polytrichum juniperinum, 5x macro of epiphragm and peristome teeth, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 19, 2012
Polytrichum juniperinum, 200x photomicrograph of stem cross section with hydroids at the very center immediately surrounded by leptoids, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 19, 2012
Polytrichum juniperinum, 200x photomicrograph of seta cross section with hydroids at the very center immediately surrounded by leptoids and larger parenchymal cells with stereids and epidermal cells outside, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, San Francisco Mtns., Johnson Canyon, June 19, 2012
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