Status: Native
Synonyms:
Orthotrichum pumilum Swartz var. fallax (Bruch) Bertsch
Orthotrichum schimperi Hammar
Orthotrichum pumilum has lanceolate leaves with laminal cells that have 1-2 distinct, mostly simple papillae. The apex of the leaf varies from obtuse to apiculate, but never with a hairpoint as in O.diaphanum. O. diaphanum also can be distinguished by the low to absent papillae on its cells. The capsule of O. pumilum has 8 ribs. When wet, the mouth of the capsule is somewhat constricted, but this is not obvious in the dry state. The stems of Orthotrichum pumilum are 5 to 10mm tall and do not have a central strand. There can be septate papillae of 3-8 cells on the lamina. The margins of O. pumilum are recurved throughout much of the length of the leaf. Orthotrichum pumilum grows on furrowed tree bark at middle elevations.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Orthotrichum pumilum (4x macro dry), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 40x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 40x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 400X photomicrograph of leaf base with rectangular basal cells, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 400x photomicrograph of mid leaf with distinct papillae, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 400x photomicrograph of stem cross section showing no central strand, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 400X photomicrograph of cross section of leaf near apex, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 200x photomicrograph of cross section of leaf near leaf base, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 400X photomicrograph of immersed stoma on capsule, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
Orthotrichum pumilum, 400X photomicrograph of septate gemmae, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City Range, McComas Peak growing on the trunk of Quercus grisea, May 5, 2013
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