Status: Native
Synonyms:
Gymnostomum pyriforme Hedwig
Physcomitrium californicum E. Britton
Physcomitrium drummondii E. Britton
Physcomitrium kellermanii E. Britton
Physcomitrium megalocarpum Kindberg
Physcomitrium pygmaeum James
Physcomitrium turbinatum (Michaux) E. Britton
Physcomitrium pyriforme is quite variable, but at the same time very distinctive. It is frequently reproductive with
large numbers of short, broad capsules with little or no peristome evident. The capsules have an obvious short neck and an annulus that does not detach easily (not revoluble). The leaves
are toothed over much of the length of the margin. Like most of the Funariaceae, the leaf cells are blocky, like stacked bricks, and not particularly helpful with ID in and of themselves. The papillose spores are usually over 40 microns in diameter.
Physcomitrium pyriforme in New Mexico has been collected only in the Aguirre Springs area of the Organ Mountains by S. Talbot (in 1980) and R.D. Worthington (in 1993). We have not been able to re-locate it there, so the pictures on this page are from our collection from Bixby State Park in NE Iowa.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Physcomitrium pyriforme (dry), photomicrograph of specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
Physcomitrium pyriforme, dark field photomicrograph of small rehydrated clump, specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
Physcomitrium pyriforme, dark field photomicrograph of single rehydrated stem, specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
Physcomitrium pyriforme, dark field photomicrograph of single rehydrated capsule, specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
Physcomitrium pyriforme, photomicrograph of leaf, specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
Physcomitrium pyriforme, photomicrograph of leaves, specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
Physcomitrium pyriforme, photomicrograph of leaf apex, specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
Physcomitrium pyriforme, photomicrograph of leaf base, specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
Physcomitrium pyriforme, photomicrograph of spores, specimen collected by Russ Kleinman and Karen Blisard, Iowa, Clayton County, 1 mi N of Edgewood, Bixby State Park, on moist limestone at wetland, May 29, 2012; photomicrograph Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 29, 2022
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