Status: Native
Synonyms:
Dicranum virens Hedwig
Oncophorus virens can be very confusing because a number of the Dicranaceae are quite similar.
The genus Oncophorus does not have the inflated orange cells of a Dicranum, and that helps. Things get a bit more confusing when the keys ask whether the leaf base is sheathing, merely clasping or erect. The name
"Oncophorus" means "tumor bearing", which refers to a nearly spherical swelling at the base of many of the
capsules. It seems like that would be more useful as a key character than the differentiation between
clasping vs. sheathing. Oncophorus virens has leaves that are folded when dry, and that separates
it from the other North American species.
The leaves are also coarsely toothed distally and have recurved margins
near midleaf.
We appreciate the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and Tiana Rehman for loaning us William F. Mahler's
Oncophorus virens specimen to photograph!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Oncophorus virens, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
Oncophorus virens, wet mount of single stem, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
Oncophorus virens, photomicrograph of leaf, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
Oncophorus virens, photomicrograph of coarsely toothed distal leaf, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
Oncophorus virens, photomicrograph of proximal leaf with recurved margin, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
Oncophorus virens, photomicrograph of costa, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
Oncophorus virens, photomicrograph of distal leaf cross section showing bistratose margin, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
Oncophorus virens, photomicrograph of proximal leaf cross section with recurved margins, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
Oncophorus virens, photomicrograph of capsule with "tumor" at base, specimen collected by Wm. F. Mahler, Colfax Cty, Forest Road 76 near junction with Osha Pass road, in spruce-aspen forest on bank above stream, July 1, 1979, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 7, 2022
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