Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Schistidium frigidum is an upper elevation moss found generally on rock. The costa is excurrent as a hyaline awn on leaves on stems bearing sporophytes, but it is subpercurrent on leaves on vegetative stems. S. frigidum is autoicous with sporophytes usually present. The distal laminal cells are smooth without papillae, but many of the cells have walls that are wavy--sinuose--not neatly quadrate as in most Grimmiaceae. The capsule is cupulate to cylindric. The leaves are lanceolate from an ovate base but the shape various considerably even within a stem with the more proximal leaves frequently shorter. The perichaetial leaves are much elongate and awned. A peristome of short teeth is present. S. frigidum forms small, low cushions. The basal marginal cells are elongate, a feature that seems to be only present in perichaetial leaves and leaves elsewhere on stems bearing capsules. Similarly, there are areas of hyaline central basal cells, but this is also mostly evident on leaves from stems bearing capsules. Unlike other closely related species, the exothecial cells are mostly isodiametric, with few elongate cells.
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Schistidium frigidum, 5x macro of dry stems and sporophytes, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 5x macro of dry stem and sporophyte, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 4x macro of wet stems and sporophytes, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf from vegetative stem, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf from vegetative stem, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf from vegetative stem, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 400x photomicrograph of margin of fertile/perichaetial leaf with elonagate basal marginal cells, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 200x photomicrograph of hyaline inner basal cells from fertile/perichaetial leaf, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 600x photomicrograph of sinuose laminal cells, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Sandoval County, Santa Fe National Forest, Hwy 126, June 9, 2022
Schistidium frigidum, 400x photomicrograph of exothecial cells, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of distal leaf, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of distal leaf, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of distal leaf, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of more proximal area of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
Schistidium frigidum, 400x photomicrograph of cross section stem with central strand, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard & Kelly Allred, Taos County, Carson National Forest, Taos Ski Valley, top of Twining Road, July 24, 2014
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