Monday, November 7, 2011

Specimen #9 Fissidens taxifolius

                                           Figure 1: Close up of Fissidens
 
                                           Figure 2: Leaves arranged spirally around the stem

Name: Fissidens taxifolius
Family:Fissidentaceae
Collection Date: October 20, 2011
Habitat: Moist soil bank right off of a trail
Location: The Nature Realm
Description: "Plants small, 4-8 mm tall, on calcareous soil and rocks, bases of trees.. 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
3a. Leaves inserted on the stem in two rows.. 4
4a. Leaves appearing split at the base consisting of two vaginant laminae which clasp the stem as well as the base of the leaf above.. (p. 62) Fissidens
Key to Species
1b. Plants on earth, trees, or rocks, not normally submerged.. 4
4b. Leaves not bordered with long cells.. 11
11b. Margins of leaves coarsely to finely and evenly serrate.. 14
14b. Margins finely and evenly serrate.. 17
17b. Costa recurrent to shortly excurrent; sporophyte lateral.. 18
18a. Costa stout, usually filling the apex, short-excurrent; cells of upper leaf conically papillose or mamillose.. Fissidens taxifolius
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