Orthotrichum lyellii

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Orthotrichum lyellii
Orthotrichum lyellii 3999.JPG
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Subclass: Bryidae
Order: Orthotrichales
Family: Orthotrichaceae
Genus: Orthotrichum
Species:
O. lyellii
Binomial name
Orthotrichum lyellii
Synonyms
  • Pulvigera lyellii(Hook. & Taylor) Plášek, Sawicki & Ochyra

Orthotrichum lyellii, also known as Lyell's bristle moss, [1] is a species of acrocarpous moss belonging to the family Orthotrichaceae. [1] [2] O. lyellii can be found throughout western North America and Europe. [3] [4] It is found most commonly growing epiphytically on a variety of trees, and less commonly on rocks or boulder substrates. [5]

Contents

Description

Orthotrichum lyellii is generally described as forming green and yellow mats, with loose tufts reaching lengths of 3 to 4 cm forming mound-like structures. [5] Its leaves are sharply pointed with a single costa and lanceolate linear leaf morphology, being very slender and reaching lengths of 2.5 to 6.5 mm. [6] Tufts can reach lengths ranging from 10 to 13 cm, and often are found lying prostrate to the ground. [7] The lamina cells of its leaves are papillose, and the entire leaf surface can often be found dusted with brown asexual propagules (gemmae) which may help to distinguish it from similar species such as Orthotrichum papillosum. [5] [8] Pale-brown or brown rhizoids may be found located at the base of the plant, with amount of branching varying but usually minimal. [7]

Habitat and distribution

Distribution of Orthotrichum lyellii in North America is primarily restricted to west of the Rocky Mountains, extending from Southeastern Alaska to California. [4] It can also be found distributed throughout Europe, descending from the United Kingdom to the Mediterranean area of North Africa and Western Asia. [3] [4] O. lyellii distribution is concentrated in coastal temperate rainforests lying closer to sea level. [5]

O. lyellii grows epiphytically on the surfaces of tree trunks and branches; they are more frequently found growing on deciduous trees such as maple, alder and oak, and less commonly on coniferous trees such as spruce and hemlock. [5] [4] They can also be found on the rocks or boulders located beneath said trees, although the frequency of this is low. [5] [9]

Reproduction

Unique to O. lyellii within its genus is its dioicous sexual condition, meaning it bears its archegonia and antheridia on different plants. [5] [4] The male plants can often be identified by their smaller size and are often found as tufts located near female plants. [10] [6] Another distinctive feature of the male plants is the conspicuous bulb-like branches that harbour its reproductive gametophores. [4]

The sporophytic stage is characterized by rare, slightly exserted capsules that are often immersed in the perichaetial leaves. [5] [4] The sporangia is distinct with 8 ribs that may run either one half or the entire length of the sporangia. [6] Like most mosses belonging to the Bryopsida class, O. lyellii has white arthrodontous peristome teeth, with 16 teeth being located in both the exostome and endostome. [5] Similar to many mosses of the Orthotrichum genus, the calyptra is hairy with straight hairs running its length, often pointed towards its tip. [4]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Orthotrichum</i> Genus of mosses

Orthotrichum is a genus of moss in the family Orthotrichaceae. It is distributed throughout the world.

Tetraphidaceae Family of mosses

Tetraphidaceae is a family of mosses. It includes only the two genera Tetraphis and Tetrodontium, each with two species. The defining feature of the family is the 4-toothed peristome.

<i>Campylopus introflexus</i> Species of moss

Campylopus introflexus, also known as the heath star moss, is a species of moss. The first description of the species was made by Johannes Hedwig as Dicranum introflexum in 1801.

<i>Sphagnum cuspidatum</i> Species of moss

Sphagnum cuspidatum, the feathery bogmoss, toothed sphagnum, or toothed peat moss, is a peat moss found commonly in Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, the eastern coast of the United States, and in Colombia.

<i>Fontinalis antipyretica</i> Species of aquatic moss

Fontinalis antipyretica, greater water-moss, or common water moss, is a species of submerged aquatic moss belonging to the subclass Bryidae. It is found in both still and flowing freshwater in Europe, Asia, Greenland and Africa. In North America it is found in most Canadian provinces with a seaboard and most US states except the most southern.

<i>Pogonatum urnigerum</i> Species of moss

Pogonatum urnigerum is a species of moss in the family Polytrichaceae, commonly called urn haircap. The name comes from "urna" meaning "urn" and "gerere" meaning "to bear" which is believed to be a reference made towards the plant's wide-mouthed capsule. It can be found on gravelly banks or similar habitats and can be identified by the blue tinge to the overall green colour. The stem of this moss is wine red and it has rhizoids that keep the moss anchored to substrates. It is an acrocarpous moss that grows vertically with an archegonium borne at the top of each fertilized female gametophyte shoot which develops an erect sporophyte.

<i>Climacium dendroides</i> Species of moss

Climacium dendroides, also known as tree climacium moss, belongs in the order Hypnales and family Climaciaceae, in class Bryopsida and subclass Bryidae. It is identified as a "tree moss" due to its distinctive morphological features, and has four species identified across the Northern Hemisphere. The species name "dendroides" describes the tree-like morphology of the plant, and its genus name came from the structure of the perforations of peristome teeth. This plant was identified by Weber and Mohr in 1804. They often have stems that are around 2-10 cm tall and growing in the form of patches, looking like small palm-trees. They have yellow-green branches at the tip of stems. The leaves are around 2.5-3 mm long, with rounder stem leaves and pointier branch leaves. Their sporophytes are only abundant in late winter and early spring, and appears as a red-brown shoot with long stalk and cylindrical capsules.

<i>Grimmia pulvinata</i> Species of moss

Grimmia pulvinata, otherwise known as grey-cushioned grimmia or pulvinate dry rock moss, is a bryophyte moss common in temperate climates worldwide.

<i>Polytrichum strictum</i> Species of moss

Polytrichum strictum, commonly known as bog haircap moss or strict haircap, is an evergreen and perennial species of moss native to Sphagnum bogs and other moist habitats in temperate climates. It has a circumboreal distribution, and is also found in South America and Antarctica.

Brachytheciaceae Family of mosses

Brachytheciaceae is a family of mosses from the order Hypnales. The family includes over 40 genera and 250 species.

<i>Ptychomnion aciculare</i> Species of moss

Ptychominon aciculare is a species of moss found predominantly in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Samoa, Juan Fernandez Islands and Chile. It is easily recognised given its similarity, especially when partially dried, to a pipe-cleaner. This name is commonly accepted across Australia and New Zealand. It has been observed growing from between sea level to sub-alpine altitudes (1200m).

<i>Andreaea rothii</i> Species of moss

Andreaea rothii, or Roth's andreaea moss, is a species of moss in the family Andreaeaceae native to North America and parts of Europe. This plant was described in 1807 by Weber and Mohr.

<i>Hymenophyllum rarum</i> Species of plant

Hymenophyllum rarum, the narrow filmy-fern, is a species of fern from the family Hymenophyllaceae. This thin-leaved fern is commonly found in New Zealand and Tasmania, growing in patches on rocks and is epiphytic on trees and tree ferns, growing in moist gullies or rainforests. A rather drought tolerant species often found at exposed sites ranging from coastal to montane areas. Forming extensive, interwoven and creeping patches with its thin long (creeping) rhizomes sparsely covered in red-brown hairs, easily recognised by its membranous grey-green fronds, the smooth margins of the pinnae, ultimate segments and indusia; and by the sunken sori in the uppermost segments of the uppermost pinnae. The species can be found throughout Tasmanian rainforests as well as occurring in New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand on the North and South Islands as well as, Stewart, Chatham and Auckland Islands.

<i>Fissidens limbatus</i> Species of moss

Fissidens limbatus commonly known as Herzog's pocket-moss, is a moss in the family Fissidentaceae. This species is found growing in high elevations in tropical America in addition to the US, Mexico and Canada. Montagne first collected F. crispus in 1838.

<i>Sphagnum papillosum</i> Species of moss

Sphagnum papillosum, the papillose peatmoss, is a species of peat moss distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. Although sometimes confused with Sphagnum imbricatum and Sphagnum palustre, it is distinguished by its yellow-green to brown short, blunt branches and papillose chlorophyllose cells.

<i>Ulota</i> Genus of mosses

Ulota is a genus of mosses comprising 69 species with a worldwide distribution, though most species are found in the southern hemisphere.

<i>Buxbaumia viridis</i> Species of moss

Buxbuamia viridis, also known as the green shield-moss, is a rare bryophyte found sporadically throughout the northern hemisphere. The gametophyte of this moss is not macroscopically visible; the large, distinct sporophyte of B. viridis is the only identifying structure of this moss. This moss can be found singularly or in small groups on decaying wood, mostly in humid, sub-alpine to alpine Picea abies, Abies alba, or mixed tree forests. This moss is rare and conservation efforts are being made in most countries B. viridis is found in.

<i>Plagiomnium venustum</i> Species of moss

Plagiomnium venustum, also known as magnificent leafy moss, is a species of moss belonging to the family Mniaceae. It is found mainly in western North America along the coastal region. This moss can be identified from other members of the Plagiomnium genus by dark coloured stomata guide cells and the absence of sterile stems. It is most commonly found growing as a mat on a variety of substrate, but mainly on humus and moist soil.

<i>Andreaea rupestris</i> Species of moss

Andreaea rupestris is a species of moss in the class Andreaeopsida, are commonly referred to as the "lantern mosses" due to the appearance of their dehisced sporangia. It is typically found on smooth, acidic, exposed rock in the Northern hemisphere. It exhibits the common features of the genus Andreaea such as being acrocarpous, having dark pigmentation, lacking a seta, and bearing 4 lines of dehiscence in its mature sporangia, but can be further identified upon careful examination of its gametophytic leaves which have an ovate base to a more blunt apex compared to other similar species.

References

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