Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Trichostomum brachydontium Bruch

Family: Pottiaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Didymodon brachydontius (Bruch) Wilson
Mollia brachydontia (Bruch) Lindb.
Tortella brachydontia (Bruch) C.E.O. Jensen
Tortula brachydontia (Bruch) Mitt.

Trichostomum does not have the wide bands of hyaline cells running up the margin above the base as in Tortella. Differentiating Trichostomum from Weissia can be difficult. Trichostomum generally has longer leaves and are frequently somewhat undulate along the margin. Trichostomum brachydontium in particular has a very stout mucro that can consist of more than 6 cells. It does not have a dilated base.

Many thanks to the University of Colorado Herbarium (COLO), Erin Tripp, and Dina Clark for permitting us to photograph this specimen.

Please click on an image for a larger file.




Trichostomum brachydontium, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, dark field photomicrograph of wet stem, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of leaf apex, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of leaf base, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of cells at midleaf, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of stem cross section with central strand, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023



Trichostomum brachydontium, photomicrograph of costa showing 2 stereid bands, collection and ID by A.J. Sharp, Mexico, Dist. Federal, in lava of Pedregal, near Contreras, November 12, 1944; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, February 16, 2023


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