Status: Native
Synonyms:
Timmia austriaca Hedw. var. arctica (Lindb.) Arnell
Timmia austriaca is similar to T. megapolitana in having long lanceolate leaves with coarsely serrate distal margins, a sheathing base, and bulging cells on the adaxial surface of the lamina. However, the sheathing portion of the leaves of T. austriaca are said (e.g., in FNA) to be bright orange while those of T. megapolitana are supposed to be clear to yellowish. In practice, at least in our area, the sheaths of T. austriaca are a dull orange-brown at midstem. The sheaths of the leaves of both species at the base of the stems can be dull orange in older leaves. The angle that the lamina takes from the sheath is sharply about 45 degrees in mature midstem leaves of T. austriaca, and more gently curved in T. megapolitana. The costa near the apex of T. austriaca is frequently papillose while this is rare in T. megapolitana. According to the description in FNA, T. austriaca is the only species of Timmia in which the costa appears to get slightly wider distal to the angle of the sheath with the lamina. Both species can be found growing in the same general area and, despite what the published literature states, the distinction can be difficult.
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Timmia austriaca, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Kirsten Romig, John Brinda & Karen Blisard, El Malpais National Monument, AJ's Turnaround Cave entrance, July 21, 2016
Timmia austriaca, stem, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Kirsten Romig, John Brinda & Karen Blisard, El Malpais National Monument, AJ's Turnaround Cave entrance, July 21, 2016
Timmia austriaca, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Kirsten Romig, John Brinda & Karen Blisard, El Malpais National Monument, AJ's Turnaround Cave entrance, July 21, 2016
Timmia austriaca, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Kirsten Romig, John Brinda & Karen Blisard, El Malpais National Monument, AJ's Turnaround Cave entrance, July 21, 2016
Timmia austriaca, photomicrograph of leaf apex-- note papillose abaxial costal surface, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Kirsten Romig, John Brinda & Karen Blisard, El Malpais National Monument, AJ's Turnaround Cave entrance, July 21, 2016
Timmia austriaca, photomicrograph of leaf base-- note slight widening of costa past junction of sheath with lamina, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Kirsten Romig, John Brinda & Karen Blisard, El Malpais National Monument, AJ's Turnaround Cave entrance, July 21, 2016
Timmia austriaca, photomicrograph of leaf cross section showing mamillose-bulging adaxial laminal cells, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Kirsten Romig, John Brinda & Karen Blisard, El Malpais National Monument, AJ's Turnaround Cave entrance, July 21, 2016
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