Status: Native
Synonyms:
Hypnum nitens Hedwig
Camptothecium nitens (Hedwig) Schimper
Homalothecium nitens (Hedwig) H. Robinson
Tomentypnum nitens var. involutum (Limpricht) C. E. O. Jensen
Tomentypnum nitens is a striking rather large pleurocarpous moss that is bright orange-yellow when out in the open in a fen or on tundra. The leaves are strongly plicate, and long acuminate. It can be mistaken for Brachythecium erythrorrhizon, but that species is not as obviously yellow and has more obvious alar cells that are inconspicuous in T. nitens. The elongate laminar cells are thick walled. The margin of T. nitens is commonly recurved, and the capsule is curved and horizontal. Interestingly, rhizoids frequently originate from the back of the costa of stem leaves. T. nitens is commonly found in cold fens or in the subarctic. It has only been collected twice from New Mexico, from upper elevations in the Taos area. Our photos here are of specimens collected by W.R. Norris in Michigan, and by us in Churchill, Manitoba.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Tomentypnum nitens, photo Russ Kleinman, Eleanor Edye & Karen Blisard, Canada, Manitoba, Churchill, 620 mi N of Winnipeg, Launch Road S of Churchill Northern Studies Center, collected and photographed June 6, 2019
Tomentypnum nitens, closeup, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of stem, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of stem with capsule, photo Russ Kleinman, Eleanor Edye & Karen Blisard, Canada, Manitoba, Churchill, 620 mi N of Winnipeg, Launch Road S of Churchill Northern Studies Center, collected June 6, 2019 (photo December 28, 2022)
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of end of stem, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of tomentum on stem, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of capsule, photo Russ Kleinman, Eleanor Edye & Karen Blisard, Canada, Manitoba, Churchill, 620 mi N of Winnipeg, Launch Road S of Churchill Northern Studies Center, collected June 6, 2019 (photo December 28, 2022)
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of cells at midlamina, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of leaf base, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of leaf apex, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of leaf cross section (recurved margin lower left, costa middle right, right side of leaf off top of screen), collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
Tomentypnum nitens, photomicrograph of stem leaf with rhizoids originating from costa, collection and ID by W.R. Norris (ID confirmed by Howard A. Crum), Michigan, Emmet, Borrow Pit, N of Wilderness Park Road edge of pool (Marl pit), July 7, 1990, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, December 28, 2022
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