Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Rosulabryum torquescens (Bruch ex De Notaris) J.R. Spence
Family: Bryaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
Bryum torquescens Bruch ex De Notaris
Bryum capillare subsp. torquescens (Bruch ex De Notaris) Kindberg
Rosulabryum torquescens is most notable for its fairly large bright red rhizoidal tubers, brighter
than the surrounding rhizoids.
The leaf apex is strongly serrate. The border is usually strong, but on our specimen the
border fails at about midleaf. There are no axillary gemmae. We found Rosulabryum torquescens
on a shaded volcanic boulder growing as scarce individual stems scattered in a tuft of Trichostomum
tenuirostre.
Many thanks to John Brinda for helping us identify this specimen!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Rosulabryum torquescens, photo Russ Kleinman, Laura Baumann & Hunter Klein, El Malpais
National Monument, May 23, 2019
Rosulabryum torquescens, rosulate stem with several bright red gemmae visible against the grains
of sand, photo Russ Kleinman, Laura Baumann & Hunter Klein, El Malpais
National Monument, May 23, 2019
Rosulabryum torquescens, photomicrograph of leaves, photo Russ Kleinman, Laura Baumann & Hunter Klein, El Malpais
National Monument, May 23, 2019
Rosulabryum torquescens, photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman, Laura Baumann & Hunter Klein, El Malpais
National Monument, May 23, 2019
Rosulabryum torquescens, photomicrograph of leaf margin, photo Russ Kleinman, Laura Baumann & Hunter Klein, El Malpais
National Monument, May 23, 2019
Rosulabryum torquescens, photomicrograph of bright red gemma, photo Russ Kleinman, Laura Baumann & Hunter Klein, El Malpais
National Monument, May 23, 2019
Rosulabryum torquescens, photomicrograph of bright red gemma, photo Russ Kleinman, Laura Baumann & Hunter Klein, El Malpais
National Monument, May 23, 2019
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