Plants of the Gila Wilderness

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

Ptychostomum turbinatum (Hedw.) J.R. Spence

Family: Bryaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Mnium turbinatum Hedwig
Bryum turbinatum (Hedw.) Turner
Hypnum turbinatum (Hedw.) F. Weber & D. Mohr

Ptychostomum turbinatum is most easily suspected on the basis of its symmetric capsule-- frequently rather ambiguously described as "turbinate". The operculum is short apiculate, and the mouth of the capsule somewhat constricted. This must have suggested the shape of a spinning top to an early investigator. The yellow-green leaves have a strong limbidium.

Many thanks to the University of Colorado Herbarium (COLO), Erin Tripp, and Dina Clark for permitting us to photograph this specimen.

Please click on an image for a larger file.



Ptychostomum turbinatum, collection by W.A. Weber, Lincoln County, Colorado, Boulder County, between Niwot Ridge and Bald Mtn., above Green Lake, September 12, 1972; (initial ID by Weber as Bryum stenotrichum annotated by Weber to Ptychostomum turbinatum, April 21, 2004); photos by Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Karen Blisard, Stacey Anderson, and Ron Wittmann January 19, 2023



Ptychostomum turbinatum, collection by W.A. Weber, Lincoln County, Colorado, Boulder County, between Niwot Ridge and Bald Mtn., above Green Lake, September 12, 1972; (initial ID by Weber as Bryum stenotrichum annotated by Weber to Ptychostomum turbinatum, April 21, 2004); photos by Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Karen Blisard, Stacey Anderson, and Ron Wittmann January 19, 2023



Ptychostomum turbinatum, photomicrograph of leaf, collection by W.A. Weber, Lincoln County, Colorado, Boulder County, between Niwot Ridge and Bald Mtn., above Green Lake, September 12, 1972; (initial ID by Weber as Bryum stenotrichum annotated by Weber to Ptychostomum turbinatum, April 21, 2004); photos by Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Karen Blisard, Stacey Anderson, and Ron Wittmann January 19, 2023



Ptychostomum turbinatum, photomicrograph of leaf, collection by W.A. Weber, Lincoln County, Colorado, Boulder County, between Niwot Ridge and Bald Mtn., above Green Lake, September 12, 1972; (initial ID by Weber as Bryum stenotrichum annotated by Weber to Ptychostomum turbinatum, April 21, 2004); photos by Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Karen Blisard, Stacey Anderson, and Ron Wittmann January 19, 2023



Ptychostomum turbinatum, photomicrograph of leaf apex, collection by W.A. Weber, Lincoln County, Colorado, Boulder County, between Niwot Ridge and Bald Mtn., above Green Lake, September 12, 1972; (initial ID by Weber as Bryum stenotrichum annotated by Weber to Ptychostomum turbinatum, April 21, 2004); photos by Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Karen Blisard, Stacey Anderson, and Ron Wittmann January 19, 2023



Ptychostomum turbinatum, photomicrograph of leaf base, collection by W.A. Weber, Lincoln County, Colorado, Boulder County, between Niwot Ridge and Bald Mtn., above Green Lake, September 12, 1972; (initial ID by Weber as Bryum stenotrichum annotated by Weber to Ptychostomum turbinatum, April 21, 2004); photos by Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Karen Blisard, Stacey Anderson, and Ron Wittmann January 19, 2023



Ptychostomum turbinatum, photomicrograph of limbidium, collection by W.A. Weber, Lincoln County, Colorado, Boulder County, between Niwot Ridge and Bald Mtn., above Green Lake, September 12, 1972; (initial ID by Weber as Bryum stenotrichum annotated by Weber to Ptychostomum turbinatum, April 21, 2004); photos by Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Karen Blisard, Stacey Anderson, and Ron Wittmann January 19, 2023



Ptychostomum turbinatum, photomicrograph of capsule, collection by W.A. Weber, Lincoln County, Colorado, Boulder County, between Niwot Ridge and Bald Mtn., above Green Lake, September 12, 1972; (initial ID by Weber as Bryum stenotrichum annotated by Weber to Ptychostomum turbinatum, April 21, 2004); photos by Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred, Karen Blisard, Stacey Anderson, and Ron Wittmann January 19, 2023


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