Mosses of the Gila Wilderness

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

Tortula atrovirens (J.E. Smith) Lindberg

Family: Pottiaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Grimmia atrovirens Smith
Desmatodon californicus Lesquereux
Desmatodon convolutus (Bridel) Grout

Tortula atrovirens is a small moss of arid lowlands that has a thickened adaxial pad of cells on the costa. In addition, the apex has recurved/revolute margins, and the stem has a central strand. The distal cells of the ovate leaves are strongly papillose. Photos we took of this moss where we first found it in the Yesos hills can be found here.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Tortula atrovirens, dry, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant Cty., Hwy 78 near Mule Creek, August 7, 2018



Tortula atrovirens, photomicrograph of stem wet mount, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant Cty., Hwy 78 near Mule Creek, August 7, 2018



Tortula atrovirens, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant Cty., Hwy 78 near Mule Creek, August 7, 2018



Tortula atrovirens, photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant Cty., Hwy 78 near Mule Creek, August 7, 2018



Tortula atrovirens, photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant Cty., Hwy 78 near Mule Creek, August 7, 2018



Tortula atrovirens, photomicrograph of thickened adaxial pad of cells on cross section of costa, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant Cty., Hwy 78 near Mule Creek, August 7, 2018



Tortula atrovirens, photomicrograph of cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant Cty., Hwy 78 near Mule Creek, August 7, 2018


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