Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Platygyrium fuscoluteum is a pleurocarpous moss that is easily confused with either Homomallium or Pylaisiella species. Platygyrium fuscoluteum can be recognized by its acute to acuminate apex, elongate laminar cells, plicate lamina, revolute leaf margin, thickened alar cells, and the sometimes inconspicuous brood branchlets at the stem apices. Platygyrium fuscoluteum is golden brown with areas of younger greenish stems. Platygyrium fuscoluteum is found at middle to upper elevation in mixed conifer forest growing on downed wood or rock. Many thanks to Kelly Allred for help with the ID of this moss!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, Iron Creek Campground, September 4, 2012
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, 40x wetmount showing brood branchlets hiding among the leaf axils and one branchlet dispersing, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, Iron Creek Campground, September 4, 2012
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, 40x wetmount showing brood branchlets hiding among the leaf axils and branchlets dispering, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Mogollon Range, Willow Creek near Ben Lilly Campground, June 24, 2013
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, 100x photomicrograph of plicate leaf with revolute margins and acuminate apex, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, Iron Creek Campground, September 4, 2012
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf with revolute margins (the thinner the cross section, the more floppy the specimen and the less obvious the plicate appearance since the costa is short and weak), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, Iron Creek Campground, September 4, 2012
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, 400x photomicrograph of thickened subquadrate alar cells, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, Iron Creek Campground, September 4, 2012
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section showing thickened subquadrate alar cells, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, Iron Creek Campground, September 4, 2012
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of stem with no central strand (like most pleurocarpous mosses), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, Iron Creek Campground, September 4, 2012
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, 2x macro of winter appearance covered in frost, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Hwy 15 north of McMillan Campground, December 14, 2013
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, growth habit on wood, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, McMillan Campground, June 18, 2014
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, growth habit on rock, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek Ranch Road, November 12, 2020
Platygyrium fuscoluteum, branch tips loaded with brood branchlets, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek Ranch Road, November 12, 2020
Back to the Index