Status: Native
Synonyms:
Bryum drummondii Müll. Hal.
Pohlia drummondii is a bit of an identification problem. It is not very distinctive when sexually reproductive-- its
characteristic gemmae are rare to absent when capsules are present. When the collection is sterile, the gemmae are more likely to be found-- usually one gemma in one or two of the upper leaf axils. The gemmae are much shorter than those of P. tundrae, the only
other Pohlia in New Mexico that bears gemmae. When reproductive, the short neck of the capsule helps key out this moss. In reproductive specimens, what initially may appear to be abundant gemmae at the stem apices are actually plump perigonia bearing antheridia.
Many thanks to the University of Colorado Herbarium (COLO), Erin Tripp & Dina Clark for loaning us this specimen for photography.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Pohlia drummondii, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
Pohlia drummondii, capsule and stems, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
Pohlia drummondii, photomicrograph of single reproductive stem, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
Pohlia drummondii, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
Pohlia drummondii, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
Pohlia drummondii, photomicrograph of leaf apex, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
Pohlia drummondii, photomicrograph of leaf base, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
Pohlia drummondii, photomicrograph of capsule, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
Pohlia drummondii, photomicrograph of gemma, collection and ID by S. Flowers (with concurrence by J. Shaw, 1978), Utah, Salt Lake County, Wasatch Mountains, Brighton, on Lake May-Twin Lakes Trail, on damp soil banks at 9,800 ft. elevation, October 4, 1956; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, June 6, 2023
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