Status: Native
Synonyms:
Didymodon fragilis Hooker & Wilson
In Tortella fragilis the hyaline base of the leaf extends up alongside the more distal papillose cells in a "V"
shape. The laminal cells are densely pluripapillose. The distal lamina is 2-stratose. The distal part of many of the leaves
is modified into a propagulum and breaks off, leaving many of the leaves looking broken on most stems. There is no central strand.
The distal leaves are rigid and long-- up to 7 mm.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Tortella fragilis, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, closer photomicrograph of habit, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, photomicrograph of stem with nearly all leaves broken off, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, dark field photomicrograph of leaf at least 5mm long, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, (bright field) photomicrograph of shorter leaf, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, closer photomicrograph of unbroken leaf apex, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, closer photomicrograph of broken leaf apex, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, closer photomicrograph of hyaline base making "V", collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, closer photomicrograph of leaf base, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, closer photomicrograph of stem cross section (no central strand), collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, closer photomicrograph of cross section near midleaf, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
Tortella fragilis, closer photomicrograph of two leaf cross sections-- note that the more distal cross section has a bistratose lamina, collection W.R. Norris, determination Howard A. Crum, Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wild Pk. Road, on soil, July 7, 1990; photos Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard January 14, 2023
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