Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Specimen #4 Moss

                                           Figure 1: Polytrichum being dissected in a petridish
                                           Figure 2: An individual leaf
                                           Figure 3: Close-up phyllid arrangement
                                          Figure 4: Mature sporophyte capsule
                                          Figure 5: Young sporophyte

Name: Polytrichum ohioense
Family:  Polytrichaceae
Collection Date:  October 4, 2011
Habitat: Directly growing from soil
Location: West Woods
Description: "Robust plants in dark-green to brown loose tufts, 1.5-6cm high, on soil and humus in woods, widespread in eastern North America (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)."
Collector: Kelcie Cuckler

Key used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.
Keying Steps:
Introduction Key pg. 19
1a. Plant with stems and leaves,.. rhizoids multicellular,.. no elaters in capsule.. 2
2b. Plants not sphagnidae.. 3
3b. Plants not andreaeidae.. p.28 subclass bryidae
 
Key to Genera
1b. Green, brown, yellow plants.. not in 2 or 3 layers.. 3
3b. Leaves inserted in 3 or more rows.. 7
7b. Plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth.. 8
8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.. 9
9b. Capsule and leaves not as above.. 10
10b. Plants without a distinct stem, capsule with operculum.. 17
17b. Plants minute to large, capsules minute to exerted.. 20
 20a. Leaves with filiform green photosynthetic outgrowths on upper surface or lamellae.. 21
21b. Leaves with vertical lamellae on upper surface.. 23
23b. Leaves toothed on margin or with translucent sides folded over upper surface.. 24
24b. Lamellae on upper surface of leave more than 20; calyptra hairy.. 27
27b. Capsule 4-6 angled, calyptra slightly hairy; leaves entire to serrate.. p.227 Polytrichum

Key to Species
1b. End cells of lamellae smooth; calyptra hairy.. 2
2b. Leaves ending in an awn.. 3
3b. Margins of leaf scarcely taller than lamellae.. 5
5b. End cells peculiar in shape and thickening of walls.. 7
7b. End cells wider than high, the upper wall thickened.. Polytrichum ohioense
 
Links:
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment