Status: Native
Synonyms:
Barbula obtusissima Müller Hal.
Tortula obtusissima (Müller Hal.) Mitten
Syntrichia obtusissima is a relatively large member of the genus Syntrichia with stems reaching 2-3 cm long. The leaves are recurved only to just past halfway to the apex and some are constricted in the middle. The distal laminal cells are pluripapillose and about 13-16μm in length. There is a long hairpoint which is reddish proximally and whitish distally. Unlike in S. ruralis, there is a stem central strand and also hydroids within the costa. We are grateful to John Brinda for sending us this specimen to photograph.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Syntrichia obtusissima, dry, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
Syntrichia obtusissima, moistened, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
Syntrichia obtusissima, stems measured, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
Syntrichia obtusissima, single dry stem, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
Syntrichia obtusissima, photomicrograph of leaf recurved to about midleaf and constricted at mid-lamina, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
Syntrichia obtusissima, pluripapillose distal laminal cells measured, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
Syntrichia obtusissima, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
Syntrichia obtusissima, photomicrograph of costal cross section with hydroids (roughly triangular small clear area below the large guide cells), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
Syntrichia obtusissima, photomicrograph of stem cross section with central strand, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, specimen collected and determined by John C. Brinda, Big Hatchet Mountains, N facing slope of Big Hatchet Peak, April 11, 2019
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