Plants of the Gila Wilderness

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

Brachythecium collinum (Schleicher ex Mueller Hal.) Schimper

Family: Brachytheciaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Chamberlainia collina (Schleich. ex Müll. Hal.) H. Rob.

Brachythecium collinum is a smaller pleurocarpous moss. It is distinguished from B. fendleri by its less elongate leaves as well as the lack of obvious plication at the leaf base. Since the leaves of B. collinum are very concave, most of the leaves are folded (not be be confused with plications) or slit lengthwise on a microscope slide. The costa ends well below the leaf tip. The plant is a yellowish green in color, julaceous (stem and leaves cylindrical) and lives on rocks at middle elevation. Brachythecium collinum sometimes is found growing next to Anomodon rostratus and other small julaceous mosses with which it can be confused on gross appearance.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Brachythecium collinum (dry), photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, Ben Wilder & Karen Blisard, Mogollon Mtns., Rain Creek Canyon, July 1, 2010



Brachythecium collinum (wet), photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, Ben Wilder & Karen Blisard, Mogollon Mtns., Rain Creek Canyon, July 1, 2010



Brachythecium collinum, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, Ben Wilder & Karen Blisard, Mogollon Mtns., Rain Creek Canyon, July 1, 2010



Brachythecium collinum, 100x photomicrograph of different leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, Ben Wilder & Karen Blisard, Mogollon Mtns., Rain Creek Canyon, July 1, 2010


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