Status: Native
Synonyms:
Not applicable
We found this Tortula at the Gila Cliff Dwellings growing on a rock in minute clumps. It had sporophytes and we thought we were lucky to have a keyable plant, but the sporophytes are unfortunately immature and without a good peristome to examine. We have shown the plant to Bruce Allen, Brent Mishler, Ken Kellman and John Brinda. There isn't good agreement about whether this moss is T. muralis (which would be a new state record for NM) or T. plinthobia. These two species are differentiated by the mature peristome, which we lack. We post the pix here and hope we can find mature sporophytes in the coming season!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Tortula plinthobia/muralis (2x macro dry), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon, March 17, 2011
Tortula plinthobia/muralis, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon, March 17, 2011
Tortula plinthobia/muralis, 40x photomicrograph of leaves, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon, March 17, 2011
Tortula plinthobia/muralis, 400x photomicrograph of stem with central strand, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon, March 17, 2011
Tortula plinthobia/muralis, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon, March 17, 2011
Tortula plinthobia/muralis, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Cliff Dweller Canyon, March 17, 2011
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