Status: Native
Synonyms:
Trichostomopsis australasiae (Hook. & Grev.) H. Rob.
Didymodon australasiae (Hook. & Grev.) R.H. Zander var. umbrosus (Müll. Hal.) R.H. Zander
Didymodon umbrosus (Müll. Hal.) R.H. Zander
Husnotiella torquescens (Cardot) E.B. Bartram
Trichostomopsis australasiae (Hook. & Grev.) H. Rob. var. umbrosus (Müll. Hal.) R.H. Zander, ined.
Trichostomopsis crispifolia Cardot
Trichostomopsis diaphanobasis (Cardot) Grout
Trichostomopsis fayae Grout
Trichostomopsis umbrosus (Müll. Hal.) H. Rob.
Didymodon australasiae is a small, dark greenish to black moss with stems generally less than 1 cm tall and frequently only a few millimeters tall. The leaves are incurved/appressed when dry, spreading when moist. The leaves are lanceolate or ovate with a broadly acute apex. The margins are recurved nearly to the apex. The costa ends a few cells short of the apex. Near the apex there is a low adaxial pad of cells. The laminal cells are pluripapillose. The margin is 2-stratose near the apex. There is no adaxial stereid band. Didymodon australasiae is found on volcanic rock at middle elevation. Thanks to Bruce Allen for confirming this difficult to identify moss for us!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Didymodon australasiae (2x macro dry), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, October 29, 2012
Didymodon australasiae, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, October 29, 2012
Didymodon australasiae, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, October 29, 2012
Didymodon australasiae, 100x photomicrograph of leaves, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, October 29, 2012
Didymodon australasiae, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of distal leaf showing bistratose margin, pluripapillose laminal cells, and a low adaxial pad of cells, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, October 29, 2012
Didymodon australasiae, 400x photomicrograph of stem with central strand, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, October 29, 2012
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