Mosses of New Mexico Outside of the Gila Wilderness

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

Fissidens fontanus (Bachelot de la Pylaie) Steudel

Family: Fissidentaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Skitophyllum fontanum Bachelot de la Pylaie
Octodiceras julianum var. ohioense Emig
Fissidens debilis Schwägrichen
Fissidens julianus (Savi) Schimper

Fissidens fontanus is the only true aquatic member of the genus found so far in New Mexico. It has leaves that alternate up the stems in one plane. The leaves are very long-- about 10 times as long as they are wide. The costa does not extend to the leaf apex, but it can be difficult to discern exactly where it ends. The vaginant laminae are shorter than in most Fissidens, ending only about 1/3 of the length of the leaf. The margin of the minor lamina is mostly free.
Many thanks to the University of Colorado Herbarium and Dina Clark for loaning us this specimen!
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Fissidens fontanus, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 25, 2022, specimen collected by Ronald A. Pursell, Mora County, 3 mi W of Canadian River Bridge on State Road 120, rocky bottom of water hole in gulley, September 18, 1957



Fissidens fontanus, closeup of profusely branched specimen, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 25, 2022, specimen collected by Ronald A. Pursell, Mora County, 3 mi W of Canadian River Bridge on State Road 120, rocky bottom of water hole in gulley, September 18, 1957



Fissidens fontanus, leaves up to 7mm long, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 25, 2022, specimen collected by Ronald A. Pursell, Mora County, 3 mi W of Canadian River Bridge on State Road 120, rocky bottom of water hole in gulley, September 18, 1957



Fissidens fontanus, single stem, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 25, 2022, specimen collected by Ronald A. Pursell, Mora County, 3 mi W of Canadian River Bridge on State Road 120, rocky bottom of water hole in gulley, September 18, 1957



Fissidens fontanus, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 25, 2022, specimen collected by Ronald A. Pursell, Mora County, 3 mi W of Canadian River Bridge on State Road 120, rocky bottom of water hole in gulley, September 18, 1957



Fissidens fontanus, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 25, 2022, specimen collected by Ronald A. Pursell, Mora County, 3 mi W of Canadian River Bridge on State Road 120, rocky bottom of water hole in gulley, September 18, 1957



Fissidens fontanus, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 25, 2022, specimen collected by Ronald A. Pursell, Mora County, 3 mi W of Canadian River Bridge on State Road 120, rocky bottom of water hole in gulley, September 18, 1957



Fissidens fontanus, photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 25, 2022, specimen collected by Ronald A. Pursell, Mora County, 3 mi W of Canadian River Bridge on State Road 120, rocky bottom of water hole in gulley, September 18, 1957


Back to the Index