Specimen #13 Amblystegium varium

                                           Figure 1: Leaves of Amblystegium

 

                                           Figure 2: Close up of leaf

                                           Figure 3: The sporophyte 

Name: Amblystegium varium
Family:  Amblystegiaceae

Collection Date:  September 14, 2011

Habitat: Growing on a rock

Location: South Chagrin Reservation

Description: "Plants small, in yellowish or green mats, on soil, humus, logs, rocks of moist shady habitats, widespread in 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/Species

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

20b. Leaves without photosynthetic outgrowths.. 28

28b. Plants don't only grow on organic matter.. peristome single or double.. 33

33b. Stems creeping or ascending, usually extensively branched, in interwoven mats.. 139

139b. Leaves smooth; more or less glossy.. 174

174b. Paraphyllia or multicellular propagula few or none, usually not seen, if numerous, then plants complanate.. 182

182b. Costa single and strong to short and/or double to absent.. 183

183b. Costa single, reaching the middle of the leaf or beyond to lacking, or short and/or double..184
184a. Costa single, reaching the middle of the leaf or beyond.. 185
185b. Terrestrial, on dry or wet substrates, not normally submerged.. 192
192b. Plants not dendroid.. 193
193b. Leaves no distinctly bordered.. 194
194b. Leaves narrowly lanceolate to ovate.. 196
196b. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, rarely falcate, never circinate.. 197
197a. Median leaf cells short.. 198
198b. Cell walls thin, of equal thickness all around.. 205
205b. Leaves entire or slightly denticulate on lower half.. 207
207b. Leaves erect, spreading or appressed, not squarrose spreading.. 208
208b. Leaves erect or appressed.. 209
209b. Capsules curved, strongly contracted under the mouth when dry.. 211
211b. Costa strong or weak, ending below the apex.. 212
212a. Margins entire.. (p.182) Amblystegium

Key to Species
1b. Costa strong, reaching apex of leaf or nearly so.. Amblystegium varium

Links:
http://bryophytes.plant.siu.edu/imAmblystegiumVarium.html
http://www.plantguide.org/amblystegium-varium-moss.html
http://www.sagebud.com/amblystegium-moss-amblystegium-varium/