Status: Native
Synonyms:
Syntrichia pagorum (Milde) J.J. Amann
Tortula pagorum (Milde) De Notaris
Syntrichia laevipila prefers to grow on either live or downed wood at lower elevation in the Gila. It has oblanceolate, papillose leaves with plane margins. The apex is truncate to emarginate with a smooth hairpoint that is up to 1/2 the length of the lamina. The costa is smooth (without papillae) on the abaxial surface. The most impressive character, though, is the mass of brood leaves found in the axils of the comal leaves. The brood leaves are fusiform, green, papillose, without a costa, and apiculate.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Syntrichia laevipila (3x macro), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns, in a canyon off Bill Evans Road near Hwy 180, growing on Quercus grisea, January 3, 2011
Syntrichia laevipila, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns, in a canyon off Bill Evans Road near Hwy 180, growing on Quercus grisea, January 3, 2011
Syntrichia laevipila, 100x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns, in a canyon off Bill Evans Road near Hwy 180, growing on Quercus grisea, January 3, 2011
Syntrichia laevipila, 400x photomicrograph of abaxial surface of costa without papillae, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns, in a canyon off Bill Evans Road near Hwy 180, growing on Quercus grisea, January 3, 2011
Syntrichia laevipila, 400x photomicrograph of brood leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Burro Mtns, in a canyon off Bill Evans Road near Hwy 180, growing on Quercus grisea, January 3, 2011
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