Status: Native
Synonyms:
Fissidens obtusifolius var. kansanus Renauld & Cardot
Fissidens obtusifolius var. marginatus Flowers
Fissidens obtusifolius has relatively short, ovate leaves with a costa and 1-stratose, smooth laminal cells. The costa ends just a few cells before the apex. It has a bryoides-type costa, meaning that there are only 2 stereid bands that are lateral, and just a few central cells. On this specimen, there is no hint of a limbidium on any of the laminae, although that can be variable. The apex is the real giveaway-- it is rounded to broadly obtuse and is only occasionally weakly apiculate on distal leaves. Fissidens obtusifolius is not aquatic-- it is found limestone and limestone bearing sandstone along streams.
Fissidens obtusifolius, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, dark field photomicrograph of stem, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, (bright field) photomicrograph of stem, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, photomicrograph of three leaves on stem, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, photomicrograph of leaf apex, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, photomicrograph of cells near mid-leaf, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
Fissidens obtusifolius, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, collection and ID W.R. Norris & Dassler, Iowa, Webster County, Dolliver State Park, W side of Des Moines River on sandstone, August 7, 1991; photography by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 8, 2023
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