Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Polytrichum piliferum is most easily recognized by its opaque lanceolate leaves that narrow abruptly to a white hairpoint. The margins of the lamina are tightly folded over the top of about 30 lamellae (sheets of cells arranged longitudinally along the spreading part of the leaf) such that the lamellae are nearly completely enclosed. The sheathing part of the leaf has transversely oriented hinge cells that cause the leaves to spread slowly when wet. Polytrichum piliferum is found at upper elevation on open sand or rock.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Polytrichum piliferum, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Middle Fork Lake trail, near Red River, July 29, 2021
Polytrichum piliferum, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Middle Fork Lake trail, near Red River, July 29, 2021
Polytrichum piliferum, 4x macro wet (noted that the folded over margins of the leaf give the leaf an "unzipped sleeping bag" look, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
Polytrichum piliferum, 2x macro dry, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
Polytrichum piliferum, 5x macro of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
Polytrichum piliferum, 5x macro of leaf (note bubbles caught with lamellae under folded over margins of leaf in this water mount prep), photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
Polytrichum piliferum, 400x photomicrograph of hinge cells at junction of sheathing and spreading part of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
Polytrichum piliferum, 400x photomicrograph of leaf apex at junction with awn, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
Polytrichum piliferum, 200x photomicrograph of leaf cross section with margins nearly completely enclosing lamellae, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
Polytrichum piliferum, 400x photomicrograph of portion of a lamella with free margin to the right (with bottle shaped cell at the top) and basal part to the left, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
Polytrichum piliferum, 200x photomicrograph of approx 4 cell thick cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, near upper lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Road, July 22, 2014
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