Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Homomallium incurvatum (Schrader ex Bridel) Loeske
Family: Pylaisiaceae, formerly Hypnaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Homomallium incurvatum is very similar to H. mexicanum and Pylaisia polyantha. H. incurvatum does not have as many quadrate
alar cells on the margin as H. mexicanum, and the cell lengths of H. incurvatum are longer than those of H. mexicanum. It would help to
have sporophytes to differentiate H. incurvatum from P. polyantha. The sporophytes of H. incurvatum are curved and inclined, while
those of P. polyantha are straight and upright. In the absence of sporophytes, differentiation can be difficult. P. polyantha can
have homomallous leaves, although not usually the strongly homomallous leaves of H. incurvatum. E.B. Bartram identified a specimen
of H. incurvatum from El Malpais many years ago, and we think this specimen fits the descritpion also. I would like to hear from you
if you can confirm our ID or feel that I am in error!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Homomallium incurvatum, Laura Baumann, photo by Russ Kleinman, Cibola Cty., El Malpais National Monument, February 17, 2017
Homomallium incurvatum, single homomallous stem, Laura Baumann, photo by Russ Kleinman, Cibola Cty., El Malpais National Monument, February 17, 2017
Homomallium incurvatum, photomicrograph of leaf, Laura Baumann, photo by Russ Kleinman, Cibola Cty., El Malpais National Monument, February 17, 2017
Homomallium incurvatum, photomicrograph of central lamina cells of leaf, Laura Baumann, photo by Russ Kleinman, Cibola Cty., El Malpais National Monument, February 17, 2017
Homomallium incurvatum, photomicrograph of leaf base, Laura Baumann, photo by Russ Kleinman, Cibola Cty., El Malpais National Monument, February 17, 2017
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