Plants of the Gila Wilderness

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

Orthotrichum rupestre Schleicher ex Schwaegrichen

Family: Orthotrichaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Orthotrichum rupestre Schleich. ex Schwägr. var. globosum (Lesq.) Grout
Orthotrichum rupestre Schleich. ex Schwägr. var. macfaddenae (R.S. Williams) Grout
Orthotrichum texanum Sull. & Lesq.

Orthotrichum rupestre is a large moss for this genus with stems up to 3-5 cm long. On sterile plants, the leaves can look much like a Grimmia, with the papillae seen only under the microscope. O. rupestre grows on granitic rock in or around creekbeds in loose mats with curved stems. It has no hairpoints, an acute apex, leaf edges recurved to nearly the apex and isodiametric cells for most of the lamina length. The lamina is one cell thick. The stomata on the capsule are superficial. The basal leaf cells are elongate and somewhat nodulose. Orthotrichum rupestre is found at middle elevation in the Gila National Forest.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Orthotrichum rupestre, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014



Orthotrichum rupestre, 3x macro dry, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014



Orthotrichum rupestre, 3x macro dry, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014



Orthotrichum rupestre, 40x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014



Orthotrichum rupestre, 400x photomicrograph of elongate, porose cells at leaf base, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014



Orthotrichum rupestre, 400x photomicrograph of papillae at leaf margin, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014



Orthotrichum rupestre, 200x photomicrograph of stem cross section, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014



Orthotrichum rupestre, 400x photomicrograph of distal leaf cross section, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014



Orthotrichum rupestre, 400x photomicrograph of superficial stomata on capsule, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, on cliff beside trail behind McMillan Campground, June 7, 2014


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