Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

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

Pleurozium schreberi (Bridel) Mitten

Family: Hylocomiaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Calliergon schreberi (Brid.) Mitt.
Calliergonella schreberi (Brid.) Grout
Calliergonella schreberi (Brid.) Grout var. tananae (Grout) Grout
Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. var. tananae (Grout) Wijk & Margad.

Pleurozium schreberi is a large bright green pleurocarp best known for the way its bright red stems shine through the leaves when wet. Under the microscope, Pleurozium schreberi is differentiated from the Entodons by the small number of orange and thickened alar cells in Pleurozium as well as the bluntly acute but serrate apex of P. schreberi that is not obscured by the otherwise incurved apical margins. Pleurozium schreberi is found at upper elevation forming dense mats covering soil.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Pleurozium schreberi, closeup of dry habit, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard, & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Mtns., near the lower ski lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Roads, July 22, 2014



Pleurozium schreberi, 3x macro of dry habit, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard, & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Mtns., near the lower ski lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Roads, July 22, 2014



Pleurozium schreberi, 3x macro wet with red stem showing through leaves, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard, & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Mtns., near the lower ski lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Roads, July 22, 2014



Pleurozium schreberi, 40x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard, & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Mtns., near the lower ski lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Roads, July 22, 2014



Pleurozium schreberi, 400x photomicrograph of leaf base, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard, & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Mtns., near the lower ski lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Roads, July 22, 2014



Pleurozium schreberi, 400x photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard, & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Mtns., near the lower ski lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Roads, July 22, 2014



Pleurozium schreberi, 200x photomicrograph of leaf apex focused to emphasize the incurved apical margin and exposed serrate tip, photo Russ Kleinman,Karen Blisard, & Kelly Allred, Taos Cty., Carson National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Mtns., near the lower ski lift at the end of Twining/Kachina Roads, July 22, 2014


Back to the Index