Status: Native
Synonyms:
Leskea mexicana Bescherelle
Lindbergia mexicana is a small moss that is confusing because it does not have the prominent papillae of the more common L. brachyptera. The leaves are closely appressed to the stem when dry, but widely spreading when wet, a key character. The costa ends just before the apex but is not particularly sinuous and the leaf margins are plane at midleaf, helping to distinguish it from the similar Lescuraea arizonae. This specimen was collected by Richard Worthington in 2010 and correctly identified in 2022 by John Brinda (thanks John!). It is provided to us by Kelly Allred and the herbarium at NMSU (NMCR) to whom we are grateful!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Lindbergia mexicana, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
Lindbergia mexicana, photomicrograph of single DRY stem, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
Lindbergia mexicana, photomicrograph of the same stem as above only WET with leaves now widely spreading, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
Lindbergia mexicana, photomicrograph of leaf, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
Lindbergia mexicana, photomicrograph of medial leaf cells near mid lamina, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
Lindbergia mexicana, photomicrograph of marginal leaf cells at alar region, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
Leskeadelphus angustatus, photomicrograph of capsule, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
Lindbergia mexicana, photomicrograph of capsule, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
Lindbergia mexicana, photomicrograph of worn exostome tooth, collection by Richard Worthington, Eddy County, Guadalupe Mtns., end of FR540 on oak bark at 7000 ft., July 7, 2010; photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 31, 2022
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