Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Homomallium mexicanum is a pleurocarpous moss that looks like a very diminutive Hypnum. It has a short, double costa and elongate laminar cells. The leaf tip is acuminate and entire to denticulate. The leaves at the ends of the stems all point the same direction (homomallous) on some fronds although it is quite variable. Homomallium mexicanum is found is fairly diverse habitat, from Pinon Juniper woodland near Silver City to higher elevations in the Black Range and Mogollons. Homomallium mexicanum is very difficult to distinguish from Pylaisiella polyantha. One good clue is that the capsule of Homomallium mexicanum is asymmetric and inclined, compared to the symmetric erect capsules of Pylaisia polyantha. Both Homomallium and Pylaisia have foliose pseudoparaphyllia, scale-like structures perhaps homologous to proximal stem leaves surrounding the base of the shoot primordia.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Homomallium mexicanum, macro of habit on bark of Fraxinus velutina tree trunk, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek Ranch Rd, September 19, 2020
Homomallium mexicanum, macro of habit on rock, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, February 23, 2021
Homomallium mexicanum, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, junction of Bear Mtn Rd and FR 858, October 28, 2010
Homomallium mexicanum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, junction of Bear Mtn Rd and FR 858, October 28, 2010
Homomallium mexicanum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, junction of Bear Mtn Rd and FR 858, October 28, 2010
Homomallium mexicanum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf base, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, junction of Bear Mtn Rd and FR 858, October 28, 2010
Homomallium mexicanum, 400x photomicrograph of midleaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, junction of Bear Mtn Rd and FR 858, October 28, 2010
Homomallium mexicanum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf tip, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, junction of Bear Mtn Rd and FR 858, October 28, 2010
Homomallium mexicanum, 5x macro of asymmetrical inclined capsule, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Cherry Creek Canyon, December 13, 2012
Homomallium mexicanum, photomicrograph of foliose pseudoparaphyllia, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, December 31, 2017
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