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County Checklist of the Mosses of
Wyoming P. M. Eckel Res Botanica http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/resbot/1Bryo.htm August 17, 2007 |
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COUNTY CHECKLIST OF THE MOSSES OF WYOMING P. M. Eckel, Research Fellow, Division of Botany, Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo, New York 14211 U.S.A. (Presently: Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299; email: patricia.eckel@mobot.org This list of
specimens by county for the moss flora of the state of Wyoming, U.S.A. is
presented "as is," that is, without revision from a version
prepared some12 years ago while a Research Fellow of the Buffalo Museum of
Science, Buffalo, New York. The work at that time had to be terminated due to
other pressing needs. This work is not only preliminary, but it is also
rudimentary - many nomenclatural changes have been made in bryology since
work began on the present effort, and I am sure much has been published on
the state flora since this list was compiled. I also expect that certain of
the determinations will require revision. Some may question the advisability
of putting this list up for view, but I felt that so much work went into it
that some use could be had of it. I would like to
thank Bonnie Heidel of the Wyoming Natural
Diversity Database, for her patience, as I said I would provide this
list to her quite a few years ago and only now am able to comply. This also
applies to Judith Harpel, currently working on the flora of Yellowstone
National Park, to Martin Lenz and Elena Kosovich, all of whom will doubtless find much that
is new and interesting in their present work within the state. Back in the Old
Days, I was generously encouraged by Mason Hale. Harold Robinson kindly
arranged for the loan of specimens from the Smithsonian Institution. Ron
Hartman and B. E. Nelson also encouraged and loaned specimens from the Rocky
Mountain Herbarium in Laramie. R. H. Zander always
provided guidance while Curator of the Clinton Herbarium in Buffalo, New York
and generously assisted with the computerized version in its present form. All errors are most
decidedly my own. I put this information online to provide label data and
resource locales for the various species. This list includes taxa that were
problematic from the literature and other sources and should not be discarded
- no time was available to analyze the data. The notes I took on the various
species may or may not be useful. If time does not prevent it, I would enjoy,
in the future, adding to this list from a backlog of specimens I have collected
in the State at various times during the past two decades and perhaps also to
attend to some of the issues raised in earlier publications. P. M. Eckel Note: This publication may be cited as: Eckel, P. M. 2007. County Checklist of the Mosses of Wyoming. Res Botanica, a Missouri Botanical Garden Web Site. http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/resbot/1Bryo.htm August 17, 2007. Collectors for the present text: Eckel, P. M. Hartman, R. Hermann, F. J. Nelson, B. E. Odasz, A. Porter, C. L. Rolston, H., III Spence, J. R. Weber, W. A. Telephone Canyon is in Albany Co. Abietinella abietina (Hedw.) Fleisch. Abietinella abietina (Hedw.) Fleisch. Hypnum abietinum Hedw. Thuidium abietinum (Hedw.) B.S.G.. Hawk’s Ranch, Colorado-Wyoming State line, Albany County (Aven Nelson, in 1930); Tower Falls, Yellowstone National Park (collector unknown), Porter, 1935. JOHNSON CO.: Big Horn Mts., 5500 ft. Odasz 1217 (BUF, RM). PARK CO.: 6000 ft. ??? 13064 (RM, BUF); 6300-6900 ft., 21985 (BUF, RM). SHERIDAN CO.: Mineral soil, conifer litter, Big Horn National Forest, T57N, R89W, Section 28, McGee 92-033, June 17, 1992 (BUF, RM). WESTON CO.: Newcastle, on ground in open pine forest, O. Degener 17,010 & Leroy Peiler, July 19, 1942 (NY). YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Beaver dams, Camp Roosevelt, H. S. Conard, VI, 1924, c. fr. (NY). Amblyodon dealbatus (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp. in B.S.G. Springy and boggy places, in the Ferris Mountains, Carbon Co. (Elias Nelson, 4976), Porter, 1935. PARK CO.: south slope of Bear Tooth Butte, Aug. 23, 1953, c.fr., E. Lawton. 2057 (WTU). Amblystegium noterophilum (Sull. & Lesq. in Sull.) Holz. = Hygroamblystegium noterophilum (Sull. & Lesq. in Sull.) Warnst. ?Amblystegium porphyrrhizon Schimp. = A. juratzkanum var. serotinum (Lindb.) Wijk et Marg. (Podpr. Consp. 566). nothing in 1990. Amblystegium riparium (Hedw.) Schimp. = Leptodictyum riparium (Hedw.) Warnst. Amblystegium serpens (Hedw.) Schimp. in B.S.G. var. serpens Albany, Carbon cos., Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1935. Teton Co., Spence 1985. (A. serpens var. serpens). Campbell Co., Medina, 1994. ALBANY CO: “Laramie Hills” Aven Nelson 1929 (RM); Medicine Bow Mts., Medicine Bow National Forest, Barber Lake Picnic Area, 2.5 air miles NW of Centennial, Pinus contorta forest along Libby Creek, 2660 msm, Buck 23189 (NY), with Campylium hispidulum, Cirriphyllum cirrosum, associated with rotten wood; NW base Sheep Mtn. along WY Rte. 11, ca. 4 mi ESE of Centennial, 7,700-7,800 ft, fen with low forest of Populus, Betula, Salix in shallow water, a “hanging bog” on steep hillside. Wet rotting log, W. D. Reese 18173 (LAF, BUF) June 7, 1993. PARK CO.: wet marly substrate, in calcareous fen at base of Cathedral Cliffs, 2 mi E of Crandall Ranger Station, 6,600 ft, J. C. Elliott 1738 (BUF), Aug. 12, 1990. var. juratzkanum (Schimp.) Rau & Herv. Amblystegium juratzkanum Schimp. [checklist 1990] Albany, Carbon, [Sublette, Teton cos.], Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1935. ALBANY CO.: 8,000 ft., C. L. Porter 1541 (RM). CARBON CO.: Ferris Mts. Elias Nelson 4979 (RM) July 25, 1898. FREMONT CO.: 8600 ft., F. J. Hermann 25307 (RM). YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: USA, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, grassy seep, swale, roots of Salix, 6,239 ft, a few miles from Mammoth Hot Springs on Road to Tower. July 6, 1995; P M Eckel 95082823 (BUF) with Brachythecium frigidum, Aulacomnium palustre, Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum, Bryum pseudotriquetrum var. bimum, Distichium capillaceum, Drepanocladus aduncus & D. uncinatus, Leptodictyum pyriforme, Plagiomnium rugicum, Plagiothecium denticulatum. Platydictya [costae not evident or very short], Platygyrium [costa short and double], and Pterigynandrum [costa short and double), Pylaisiella [costae short and double]: Amblystegium serpens and varieties and variations always have a costa strong to at least the middle of the leaf. Especially gracile forms may be misleading. Amblystegium tenax (Hedw.) C. Jens. = Hygroamblystegium tenax (Hedw.) Jenn. Amblystegium trichopodium (Schultz) Hartm. = Leptodictyum humile (P. Beauv.) Ochyra Amblystegium varium (Hedw.) Lindb. Ferris Mts., Carbon Co. (Aven Nelson, 4979), Porter, 1935. ALBANY CO.: 8500 ft., F. J. Hermann 17776 (RM); Medicine Bow Mts, Medicine Bow National Foreset, Barber Lake Picnic Area, 2.5 air mi NW of Centennial, Pinus contorta forest along Libby Creek, Buck 23205 (NY). The Hermann specimen has decidedly serrate margins and somewhat inflated alar cells. The Buck specimen has serrate margins, especially at the base, evidence of channeling in the acumen but with marvelously inflated excavate basal cells! Amphidium lapponicum (Hedw.) Schimp. Albany County (Porter, 1738); Johnson Co. (Porter, 1624), Porter, 1935. Teton Co., Spence 1985. SUBLETTE CO.: 10,348 ft., Holmes Rolson III 85117 (CS). Anacolia menziesii (Turn.) Paris Bartramia menziesii Turn. Lawton. Wyoming, Flowers 1973. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Firehole River south of Madison Junction, Aug. 18, 1953, E. Lawton 1875 (WTU). In 1990 checklist there is a var. baueri (Hampe) Flow. Andreaea rupestris Hedw. Andreaea petrophila Fuernr. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Lost Lake. Elva Lawton 1830 (YELLO) Aug. 17, 1953. Atrichum selwynii Aust. In all states and provinces of the P.N.; Alaska, California, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Utah, Colorado, Lawton. Teton Co., Spence, 1985. TETON CO.: 7000’, Hermann 25548 (RM, US-two specimens). Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. Polytrichum undulatum Hedw. Teton Co., Spence 1985 Aulacomnium androgynum (Hedw.) Schwaegr. Albany, County, Sublette County, Teton County, and Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1935. Teton Co., Spence 1985 citing (Porter l935) for Teton Co. Nelson, 1900. Ireland, 1982. CROOK CO.: Black Hills: Williams Spring area, 4 miles E-NE of Alva; sec. 36, T55N, R63W. Conifer-deciduous woods, moss shaded on moist soil. 22, v, 1977, Churchill 8859 (TENN). The difference between this and the next is this plant is smaller, naturally the leaves shorter, they are not twisted and contorted as in the next. The cells at the base are not differentiated into large, hyaline to yellow cells, nor are they brown. The basal cells here are just like the laminal cells. If the propaguliferous stalks (pseudopodia) are present, they are naked of leaves or bracts and the propagula are clustered into a globose head. Aulacomnium palustre (Hedw.) Schwaegr. Gymnocybe palustris (Hedw.) Fries, nom. rejic. Mnium palustre Hedw. Mnium papillosum C. Muell. Sphaerocephalus palustris (Hedw.) Lindb. Aulacomnium papillosum L. & J. Centennial, Albany County (Aven Nelson, 1746), Porter 1935 = A. palustre var. papillosum (C. Muell.) Podp. in Index Muscorum. No reference to this variety is made in the new checklist. It appears no reference is made to this variety by Crum & Anderson Vol. 1 p. 619. Albany, Sheridan, [Sublette, Teton cos.], Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1935. Teton Co., Spence 1985. Sublette Co., Cooper & Andrus, 1994. ALBANY CO.: A. Nelson 7820 (RM); A. Nelson 8899 (RM);
Medicine Bow Mts., in woodland bogs, 8-10000 ft., Nelson 7820 (id’d by
Holzinger as A. androg.) (TENN). BIG
HORN CO.: 10,000-10,800 ft., Odasz 742 (RM); Big Horn Natl. For., Lake
Solitude Quad., Cloud Peak Wilderness Area, 9,840 ft., filled in lake, Aug.
5, 1992 Katherine Zacharkevics (BING), + Drepanocladus
aduncus aduncus, Warnstorfia exannulata. CARBON CO.: F. J. Hermann 17804
(RM). FREMONT CO.: 9300 ft., F.J. Hermann 25293 (RM). PARK CO.: 7500 ft.,
F.J. Hermann 20060 (RM); Beartooth Pass, 10000 ft., F.J. Hermann 20073 (RM).
PARK CO.: wet marly substrate, in calcareous fen at base of Cathedral Cliffs,
2 mi E of Crandall Ranger Station, 6,600 ft, J. C. Elliott 1741 (BUF) Aug.
12, 1990. SHERIDAN CO.: Dome Lake, A. Nelson 2417 (RM); Odasz 875 (BUF, RM).
SUBLETTE CO.: Bridger Wilderness, Wind River Range 17/viii/1989 ca. 1.5 mile
east of Barnes Lake, 10,080 ft. elev. 42°58’W, 109°34’W. Sedge fen with Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Philonotis fontana
& Drepanocladus exannulatus When the propagula are gone, frequently the far distal end of the pseudopodium has tiny dark-brown points where the propagula were once attached and the “receptacle” is elongate. The “receptacle” of A. androgynum, when the propagulae are gone, is sharply and distinctly spherical. If they extend down a ways from the pseudopodium, this should indicate you are dealing with A. palustre, since its propagula are not confined to the tips. Examination of the leaf basal cells should confirm this. If the large cells are not there, they were probably left on the stem when the leaf was removed. Barbula convoluta Hedw. var. convoluta ALBANY CO.: F.J. Hermann 17775 1\2, 8500 ft., (RM). There is a var. gallinula Zand. Barbula unguiculata Hedw. Rochelle Hills, Campbell Co., Medina, 1994. ALBANY CO.: along Roger Canyon in the Laramie Mtns, 7 mi. due NE of Laramie city centr, Artemesia scrub vegetation, limestone cliffs and outcrops, 7,600 ft., soil below edge of limestone boulder, W. D. Reese 18149 (BUF, LAF) June 7, 1993. A specimen from Rochelle Hills, Campbell Co. from MO was redetermined to be Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum (q.v.) (Weber, 5-8 June, 1975). Bartramia ithyphylla Brid. Brooklyn Lake, Albany Co. (Elias Nelson, 5177), Porter, 1937. Teton Co., Spence 1985. ALBANY CO., Hermann 17715, (RM), 10,800 ft. c.fr. Aug. 3,
l962. CARBON CO.: c.fr. Aug.6, l962, 9000’, Hermann 17800 (RM). SUBLETTE CO.:
Bridger Wilderness, Wind River Range 14/viii/1989 Barnes Lake, 9747 ft.
elev., 42°57’30”N, 109°36’W. Mineralized seeps at south end of lake, with Mnium thomsonii Schimp. Blindia acuta (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp. in B.S.G. PARK CO. 3200 msm, W. A. Weber, B-44312 (RM, COLO). SUBLETTE CO.: above Upper Twin Lake, vicinity Pass Lake, Highline Trail between Summit Lake and Peak Lake, Jim Bridger Wilderness, Wind River Mts., 10,348 ft. Holmes Rolston III 84134 (BUF, CS). BRACHYTHECIUM When taking leaves off the stem, care must be made to preserve or note decurrencies (in many spp.: B. frigidum, B. albicans, B. rutabulum, B. reflexum, etc.). Alar cells are best seen in OLD LEAVES (McFarland, Mexico). Sometimes B. salebrosum can be so plicate it seems like a Homalothecium, however that genus is all dioicous. Quasi-deltoid, flat leaves with absolutely entire margins and inflated basal cells of plants from wet areas, such as the edges of lakes or in marshes may lead one to try B. nelsonii or B. starkei but one might want to consider Drepanocladus aduncus var. kneiffii - this has straight leaves and may have them short - perhaps totally what one may not expect from a Drepanocladus (long, falcate leaves). The clue is the leaf cells which are short enough to remind one of the Amblystegiaceae and the completely entire leaf margins: of the two Brachythecia mentioned, the first has concave bases, the last is toothed and both have longer cells. Note that the falcate types are: B. leibergii (rough seta, autoicous, regularly pinnate, SMOOTH to SERRULATE, esp. in branch leaves); large 1.8 - 2.6 mm. PLICATE. The pinnate character is probably decisive; when Lawton p. 293 says “The branching is usually more regularly pinnate than in any of the species which might be confused with it” one could imagine the following taxa (looking at Lawton’s descriptions, only B. asperrimum might be subpinnate, and Crum & Anderson indicate B. reflexum is (p. 1035) - note they also indicate the leaves are slightly homomallous in the branches: the costa is percurrent). B. erythrorrhizon (smooth seta, irregular branching, dioicous, leaves 1.5 - 2.0 mm, branch leaves without spines at costa end) PLICATE, leaf margins ENTIRE “dioicous inflorescences and smooth setae, and the broad leaves are plicate and falcate with serrations at the tips” C & A p. 1032. B. velutinum (smooth seta, irregular branching, autoicous, small: 1 - 1.8 mm leaves, costa with spines at tips, leaf margins SERRULATE (perhaps as in B. collinum, cf. Weber). NOT or slightly PLICATE. [Note Flowers indicates B. frigidum and B. asperrimum (now lumped) can be falcate to straight, are dioicous, deltoid-ovate, sometimes with auricles, usu. a row of more or less inflated cells across the base attaching the leaf to the stem.] BRACHYTHECIUM is divided into generally three groups (Flowers p. 422). A. B. collinum group (fendleri, delicatulum, suberythrorrhizon (=velutinum var. venustum), erythrorrhizon) B. B. salebrosum (flexicaule, albicans, campestre, oxycladum) C. B. rivulare (lamprochryseum & asperrimum = frigidum), nelsonii, starkei) A. B. C. Small Bigger Biggest autoicous autoicous dioicous smooth setae smooth papillose rough dry wet, damp wet, damp inflated basal cells suberect capsules horizontal Note that both Br. starkei var. explanatum (curtum) and Br. rutabulum are autoicous-monoicous! Both are serrate, both abruptly narrowed with twisted apices, neither much plicate, both with rough setae, both with long median cells (60-110 µm, stark; 60-90 µm, rutab) Leaf cells broader (9-12 µm), alar cells abundant, leaves long-decurrent, seta less strongly roughened, usually smooth at base, cilia of endostome appendiculate... Br. curtum (starkei var. explanatum). Costa slender, about 5/6 the leaf length, minutely toothed at back above and usually ending in a small dorsal tooth - a serrulate midrib. Leaf cells narrower (7-9 µm), relatively fewer alar cells, not much decurrent, seta rough throughout, cilia of endostome nodose....Br. rutabulum. Costa very slender, about 2/3 - 3/4 the leaf length, smooth at back and only rarely projecting as a minute and inconspicuous dorsal spine! [reference slide of B. rutabulum looks like base is rounded before decurrencies start - starkei may be straighter down. This slide shows no serrations] B. nelsonii, rivulare, starkei dioicous, with oval/oblong (vs. quadrate) thin-walled (vs. firm) INFLATED cells, excavate [perhaps esp. in old leaves] B. nelsonii triangular-ovate, slenderly long-acuminate ENTIRE Weber says close to starkei and sterile spms not easy to sep. triangular ovate narrowly acuminate strongly excavate alar cells + 1/2 cross leaf flattish above. B. rivulare abruptly acute or shortly acuminate DENTICULATE Weber says non are deeply concave ovate/broadly ovate-lanceolate broad near apex concave like the bowl of a spoon [Weber says not] cells rarely + 1/2 way across may not be excavate but gradual. ] B. starkii seta rough or smooth below (W) autoicous. numerous alar cells moderatey enlarge and more or less quadrate WITH WALLS FIRM, like B. nelsonii but monoicous (Flowers). Brachythecium acutum (Mitt.) Sull. Amblystegium riparium var. serratum Ren. & Card. Hypnum acutum Mitt. Albany Co. (Porter 559; 747; 753; 783); Teton Co. (Porter 1159 & 1163), Porter 1934. ALBANY CO.: Centennial Valley, Aven Nelson 1698 (RM) c.fr. Aug. 17, 1895. This specimen corresponds very well with Grout's description except for the plications: the plants were “somewhat complanate” the leaves ending in long apices that are gradually developed, the color is “glossy-green to yellowish-green”. It is rather critical to note that the plants were autoicous. [Not in Lawton] Excluded from Northeastern North America by Crum & Anderson (1981). “Grout recognized this species from a broad range across the continent, in the northern United States and adjacent Canada, south in our area to New Jersey and Ohio. Robinson considered it to be merely an eplicate form of Brachythecium salebrosum” p. 1055. The Nelson specimen keyed to Br. salebrosum in Lawton, not B. albicans, which is dioicous.] Brachythecium albicans (Hedw.) Schimp. in B.S.G.. Brachythecium pseudoalbicans Kindb. in Macoun. Hypnum albicans Hedw. Mammoth, Old Faithful, and Lake, Yellowstone National Park (Smiley), Porter 1935. Teton Co., Spence 1985. LINCOLN CO: moist open willow flat along Fire Trail Creek at Greys River, 6400 ft., Salt River Range, 8 miles E of Alpine Junction, Hermann 25588 (RM), Aug. 30, 1973. [specimen with no teeth except some at tip - including branch leaves: strongly falcate, branches not all julaceous when dry]; base of a dead tree in open shade, Fishing Bridge, Dwight C. Smiley 257 (YELLO) Sept. 10, 1932 (det. as B. glareosum-dioicous) Separate from B. erythrorhizon (which is falcate) by the entire margins of branch leaves (serrate in B. erythro.) The leaf apices are strikingly long-filiform in Crum & Anderson Exsiccat NO.783, although only slenderly acuminate (Crum & Anderson p. 1025). Stem leaves are strongly plicate and have long rather broad decurrencies. Concave at the base. “Older stem leaves with quadrate to laxly rectangular alar cells ... Base of stem leaves extending straight into decurrencies [vs. being rounded before extending]; alar region composed of distinct columns of quadrate cells between leaf margins and plicae and extending into the decurrencies: dioicous” McFarland in Sharp et al. Crum & Anderson note that albicans is “rather broadly decurrent; alar cells lax and somewhat enlarged.” Note the stems are supposed to be terete to julaceous - imbricate when dry. In the exsiccat specimen the lax quadrate cells collapsed under Hoyer's solution. Color: pale yellow (exsiccat). Flowers and Lawton make the point that the leaves are ENTIRE “sometimes slightly serrate at the apex only” Crum & Anderson. The branches appear to be SMALL. Specimens of B. salebrosum may occasionally have long acuminations, so untypical, one would think, that B. albicans may come to mind. B. salebrosum will be autoicous and the plants will be plumose, that is, foliose rather than julaceous or ropey as in B. albicans. Very important are the serrations all up and down the stem leaves of B. salebrosum, more pronounced on branch leaves: these are absent in B. albicans. Brachythecium asperrimum (Mitt.) Sull. = B. fridigum (C. Muell.) Besch. in Anderson et al. 1990] Brachythecium calcareum Kindb. (As B. flexicaule) Yellowstone, Porter l937. [As B. flexicaule] Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park (Smiley), Porter, 1935. A specimen of Dwight C. Smiley's at YELLO (no. 27) determined as B. flexicaule, “moist stream bank, mouth of Clematis Gulch” is a sterile, depauperate Brachythecium. A row of inflated basal cells attaching leaves to the stem seen on old leaves indicates this specimen is Brachythecium frigidum. p. 1044 Crum & Anderson cannot sort out conflicting nomenclatural attributions in a discussion sub B. salebrosum. = B. calcareum Kindb. sec. Crum et al. l973. [not in Lawton]. Occurs in the 1990 checklist. Brachythecium collinum (Schleich. ex C.Muell.) Schimp. in B.S.G.. Hypnum collinum C. Muell. Hypnum hillebrandii Lesq. Albany, Carbon, Sublette, Teton Counties and Yellowstone National Park, Porter 1935. Albany Co. (Porter 680; 698; 651, 654), Yellowstone National Park (Bartram and Smiley), Porter 1934. Albany Co, Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1937.] ALBANY CO.: Laramie Mtns., Roger Canyon, ca. 8 air miles NE of Laramie, 2400 msm, limestone outcrops with Cercocarpus montanus, Buck 23168 (NY); S bank of Little Brooklyn Lake, Medicine Bow Mtns, 10,300 ft. Eleanor Schriever 14 (RM), June 30, 1949; Medicine Bow Mountains, Barber Lake Picnic area, 2.5 air miles NW of Centennial, along Libby Creek, elev. 8720-8740 ft., Pinus contorta forest along stream, on soil, N.G. Miller 10,256 (NYS) June 7, 1993. FREMONT CO.: Bridger-Teton National Forest on US26 & US287, between Moran & Dubois, ca. 9000’, alpine meadow, much herbage, wet with flowing streams, soil between granite boulders, N slope knoll, c.fr. July 6, 1985, Eckel 94081301 (BUF, RM). JOHNSON CO., PM Eckel 14886. PARK CO.: Bear tooth Plateau, Cooke City to Red Lodge Hwy; Picea forest with Pinus flexiils and contorta, Vaccinium scoparium forest floor; in duff on forest floor, Weber B-44220 (COLO, RM) [id. as B. velut. var. venust., growing on wood: shade form.] TETON CO.: E boundary of Tateon Co., Continental Divide, Tworoger Pass, 9000 ft., on ground, T. C. Frye June 22, 1931 (RM). YELLOWSTONE NATL. PK: in Norris Geyser Basin, R. C. Frye, Aug. 14, 1925 (RM); stream bank on rock, on slope, 17 miles W of East Entrance W. H. Welch 14883 (YELLO) Aug. 29, 1951. Leaves have distinctively sharp serrations from apex to especially the quadrate cells in the basal angles. The leaf cells appear to be short, almost like Amblystegium, especially in the apex. Note the leaves are decurrent: care must be taken when removing the leaves. Like Pseudoleskeella tectorum [which has none to variable costae in the leaves], although the julaceous form in drier habitats is perhaps more readily come to hand, one must be careful of the shade forms, too: the costa is single and strong enough to separate from Ps. tectorum (with has generally entire margins, seldom fruits and has short cells as in Amblystegium]. B. collinum fruits in July. This species is separate from B. velutinum var. venustum by the smooth setae (although see Flowers who indicates scattered papillae), but more importantly the broadly ovate-lanceolate character of the leaves with their abrupt acumination. Flowers also indicates that the B. velutinum var. venustum has “perichaetial leaves slenderly-long acuminate, often hairlike” which B. collinum does not have, the variety also has narrower leaves overall. The shade form of B. collinum is not particularly concave in leaves on the slide, although they appear this way on the stem. Brachythecium collinum may be more associated with humus and litter, rotten wood than var. venustum which seems to prefer soil and rock. Note that Weber’s thought that B. collinum and B. velutinum may be variants of one another seems credible. Note somewhat julaceous habit of B. fendleri that may be confused with this species. B. fendleri has distinctive upright fruit. Collinum is abruptly acuminate, while B. fendleri is “gradually to narrowly acuminate, sometimes very slenderly so” Flowers p. 430. Note form Eurhynchium pulchelum fo. praecox is also julaceous and resembles Brachythecium collinum by the coarse serrations. The latter, however, has cells in the apices of all leaves that are elongate (greater than 2: 1). Eurhynchium pulchellum is more broadly deltoid at the leaf base, B. collinum more ovate-lanceolate. The obtuse to broadly acute apices of the branch leaves, with apical cells short [1: 1 to 2: 1] are more characteristic of E. pulchellum. Brachythecium erythrorrhizon Schimp. in B.S.G.. Albany, Carbon, Teton Counties and Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1935. [?Albany (Porter 859); Carbon (Porter 895); Teton (Porter 1217, 1222; Porter 1158, 1190); Yellowstone National Park (Smiley), Porter, 1934. Albany, Carbon, Teton cos., Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1937. Teton Co., Spence 1985, citing Porter, Ireland, 1982. Sublette Co., Cooper & Andrus, 1994. ALBANY CO.: “growing along rotten log on moist soil.
Common,” R. Lichvar, 1347a (RM); carpeting floor of spruce forest, Little
Brooklyn lake, 10,400 ft., Medicine Bow Mtns, 7 miles NW of Centennial,
Hermann 26721a (RM) [sterile, but leaves gently falcate in places on stem,
plicate, entire margins, plicate, etc., rhizoids sparse); Medicine Bow
Mountains, Barber Lake Picnic Area, 2.5 air miles NW of Centennial, along
Libby Creek, 8720-8740 ft, Pinus
contorta forest; on soil under Pinus
contorta, N. G. Miller 10,257 (NYS) June 7, 1993. PARK CO.: Beartooth
Plateau, Cooke City to Red Lodge Hwy., Picea
forest with Pinus flexilis and contorta, Vaccinium scoparium forest floor; on forest floor, Weber B-44219
(COLO, RM) (falcation strong; on wood). SUBLETTE Co.: Bridger Wilderness,
Wind River Range 17/viii/1989 ca. 1.5 mile east of Barnes Lake, 10,080 ft.
elev. 42°58’W, 109°34’W. Thin peat terrace. This plant is said to have lots of rhizoids (abundant) at the base of the stem, but not seen in the last of the two specimens cited above or in any of the specimens seen. Yellow-green to pale yellow; green to sordid looking when the leaves assume a reddish cast, and then the red rhizoids evident. Sometimes the falcateness is only evident on some of the stems and stem sections. The sterile Park Co. specimen is differentiated from B. leibergii by its irregular branching. Told from B. leibergii by the SMOOTH SETA: leibergii has a papillose seta. The leaves are unusually broad and falcate and deeply plicate, leaving one, macroscopically at least, to jump at it being Drepanocladus uncinatus - basal cells not hyaline-inflated. The costa appears very broad, hinting at Cratoneuron, but basal cells are not sharply inflated as in that genus (and Palustriella). The leaf cells appear short for a Brachythecium, hence the first calls for something in the Amblystegiaceae. The falcation and plication are striking under the dissecting scope. Note that B. leibergii is generally SERRATE along the leaf margins, or at the base (occasionaly smooth acc. to Lawton). B. erythrorrhizon is more smooth, denticulate in the apex. Brachythecium fendleri (Sull.) Jaeg. Brachythecium utahense James in Watson Hypnum fendleri (Sull.) Sull. & Lesq. Leskea fendleri Sull. (As Brachythecium utahense James) Albany Co. (Porter 1442; 637); Carbon Co. (Porter 908), Yellowstone National Park (Smiley), Porter 1934. (As Brachythecium utahense James) Albany County, Carbon County, and Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1935. (As Brachythecium utahense James) Albany, Carbon cos., Yellowstone National Park, Porter, 1937. Southern Wyoming, Flowers 1973. Teton Co., Spence 1985. Campbell Co., Medina, 1994. ALBANY CO.: Centennial Hills, Aven Nelson 2716 (RM), Aug. 20, 1896, c.fr. This rather diminutive Brachythecium is distinctive in its upright straight capsules what are longer and narrower than typical for the genus. Its small size puts it in Flower’s B. collinum group (fendleri, delicatulum, suberythrorrhizon [= velutinum var. venustum], erythrorrhizon). It is also distinctive in its synoicous inflorescences. Without fruit they look remarkably like B. collinum. Br. fendleri is sharply toothed, even to the base and in the Az. specimen spoon shaped leaves especially at the leaf base (MacFadden 8009 det. Grout from Grand Canyon (RM). Note that the leaves appear broadly recurved-naviculate on one side at the leaf base. The 2716 specimen has COARSE, sharp serrate teeth to the leaf base, with shortened cells in the apex and occasionally rostrate opercula, but what else could be synoicous as this specimen robustly is? And the cilia are short while the endostome matches the exostome teeth. Teeth and short apical cells distinctive in branch leaves. Brachythecium flexicaule R. & C. = B. calcareum Kindb. q.v. |
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Brachythecium frigidum (C. Muell.) Besch. Brachythecium asperrimum (C. Muell.) Sull. (Anderson et al. 1990). Brachythecium lamprochryseum C. Muell. & Kindb. in Macoun Brachythecium lamprochryseum var. giganteum Grout Hypnum fridigum C. Muell. (As Brachythecium lamprochryseum var. solfaterense Grout) Solfatara Creek, Yellowstone National Park (Streeter), “This is the type collections referred to by Dr. Grout (1928),” Porter, 1935. (As Brachythecium lamprochryseum C. Muell. & Kindb. in Macoun) Wyoming, Flowers 1973. ALBANY CO.: Wood’s Creek, Nelson 3480 (US); gregarious
over moist bank; canyon bottom in pine forest, 8,000 ft., Snowy Range, A. P.
Kelley 791 (NY) July 31, 1926; ca. 4 air miles east-SE of Centennial, NW base
of Sheep Mountain along WY11, 7700- 7900 ft, Populus, Betula and Salix associated
with spring seep; open fen, N.G. Miller 10, 278 (NYS) June 7, 1993. FREMONT
CO.: Peaty bank of stream on spruce-fir slope, Burroughs Creek Rd., 8400 ft.,
Absaroka Range, 14 miles N of Dubois, Hermann 25511, Aug. 28, 1973 (NY, US);
on branch submerged in stream on spruce-fir slope, Burroughs Creek Rd., 8400
ft. Absaroka Range, 14 miles N of Dubois, Hermann 25520 (US); about 12 miles
westward near Togwotee Pass, 9,000 ft. on ground, T. C. Frye June 22, 1931
(RM). SUBLETTE CO.: Bridger Wilderness, Wind River Range 18/viii/1989 Carex fen S. of Timico Lake. |