Status: Native
Synonyms:
Hygrohypnum molle (Hedw.) Loeske
Hygrohypnum dilitatum (Wilson) Loeske
Hygrohypnum smithii (Sw.) Broth. var. goulardii (Schimp.) Wijk & Margad.
Platyhypnum molle is a pleurocarpous moss that can be found attached to rocks alongside upper elevation streams. It differs
most conspicuously from Hygrohypnella ochracea in that P. molle has nearly round (orbicular) leaves and no stem hyalodermis. P. molle has a variable costa
that usually is double with one side reaching to midleaf or slightly beyond midleaf. The apex of the leaf of P. molle is
obtuse or broadly acute with cells at the apex that are shorter than the very elongate midleaf cells. Platyhypnum duriusculum is a
very similar species that has a well-defined alar region of inflated, thick walled cells that have orange colored cell walls.
The alar region of P. molle is poorly differentiated with elongate or a few rectangular cells that are not thick walled or discolored.
The stem of P. molle has a weak central strand, unlike the stronger central strand of P. duriusculum.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Platyhypnum molle, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
Platyhypnum molle, photomicrograph of stem, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
Platyhypnum molle, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
Platyhypnum molle, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
Platyhypnum molle, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
Platyhypnum molle, photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
Platyhypnum molle, photomicrograph of alar region of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
Platyhypnum molle, photomicrograph of alar region of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
Platyhypnum molle, photomicrograph of stem cross section, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Rio Arriba County, 17 mi S of Chama, Corkin's Lodge, Upper Brazos Canyon, June 30, 3018
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