Plants of the Gila Wilderness

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

Syntrichia papillosissima (Copp.) Loeske

Family: Pottiaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Barbula papillosissima Copp.

Syntrichia papillosissima, per Brent Mishler, is like a robust Syntrichia ruralis. Both species have a long hairpoint, a recurved margin, no hydroids, multiple papillae on both surfaces, and a 1-stratose lamina. However, Syntrichia ruralis has 4-6 C-shaped papillae on the surface of each cell. The fun part about Syntrichia papillosissima are the huge mammillae that hold up 1-2 papillae, such that taken together they are about as tall again as the main part of the cell.

We are grateful 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.




Syntrichia papillosissima, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, dry stems measured, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of dry stem, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, dark field photomicrograph of moist stem, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, dark field photomicrograph of moist stem, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, dark field photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of leaf apex, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of leaf base, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of leaf margin, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of laminal cells focussed a bit high to catch the papillae, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of capsule, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of peristome, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of cross section of costa with no hydroids, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of lamina cross section to show height of mammillae and papillae, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard



Syntrichia papillosissima, photomicrograph of lamina cross section to show height of mammillae and papillae, collection and ID by J.L. Smith, Nevada, Churchill & Lander County line, Hwy 50 E of Fallon, 4 mi W of Carroll Summit on soil of slope at rest area, July 22, 1966; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard


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