Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Gymnostomum aeruginosum is a small moss that grows in dense sods in seepy areas in which it gets coveraged in water and mineral deposits. The leaves are lanceolate and the leaf cells have multiple rather narrow based papillae. The cells themselves are rectangular in shape. The margins are plane. Their is a dorsal stereid band in the costa. There usually is a stem central strand, but as in our material their may be no central strand. This can cause some confusion with Hymenostylium recurvirostre. When present, the capsules have no peristome. It has also been noted that G. aeruginosum has dimorphic rhizoids, with slender ones on the stems and larger ones in the leaf axils. G. aeruginosum is found under shaded, drippy overhangs. Many thanks to Bruce Allen of the Missouri Botanical Garden for identifying this moss for us (Oct. 18, 2011 material)!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, macro of habit, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, December 26, 21015
Gymnostomum aeruginosum (3x macro dry), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon under large, seepy overhang, October 18, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum (3x macro dry), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon under large, seepy overhang, October 18, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon under large, seepy overhang, October 18, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon under large, seepy overhang, October 18, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon under large, seepy overhang, October 18, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon on moist litter at base of rock, March 17, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon on moist litter at base of rock, March 17, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of stem showing no central strand (on right center) in this case and 3 cross sections of leaves (at left) at different levels, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon under large, seepy overhang, October 18, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, 5x macro of capsule lacking peristome, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon, October 29, 2011
Gymnostomum aeruginosum, 100x photomicrograph of capsule lacking peristome, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon, October 29, 2011
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