Cyrtomnium hymenophyllum

Illustrator: Patricia M. Eckel

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants 2–7(–20) cm. Stems erect, simple or branched distally; micronemata absent. Leaves not or lightly crisped when dry, 1.5–2(–2.5) mm; base long-decurrent; apex obtuse, acute, or rarely rounded, rarely short-apiculate; costa subpercurrent or rarely percurrent; medial laminal cells (25–)30–35(–40) µm; marginal cells short-linear or occasionally rhomboidal, in 1 (or 2) rows. Capsule arcuate; exostome lamellae 25–40. Spores 15–25 µm.

Phenology: Capsules mature summer.
Habitat: Wet, calcareous, peaty habitats, rich fens, drainage slopes with percolating water
Elevation: low to moderate elevations

Distribution

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Greenland, B.C., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., Nunavut, Que., Yukon, Alaska, Eurasia.

Discussion

Cyrtomnium hymenophyllum often grows in pure stands in circumarctic and subarctic regions, in far northern North America, central west and central east Greenland, Europe, and Asia. It is readily recognized in the field by flat, bluish green leaves that are appressed against the dark brown stems. Plants growing in less optimal dry tundra are shorter and usually not matted together. The leaves are strongly heterophyllous, reflecting periods of fast and slow growth. Female plants are common throughout the range, and male plants occur more widely than those of C. hymenophylloides. Sporophytes are rare and have only been found in the Yukon (D. H. Vitt and D. G. Horton 1979), Northwest Territories, and British Columbia.

Selected References

Holmen, K. 1957b. The sporophytes of Mnium hymenophyllum. Bryologist 60: 135–138.

Lower Taxa

None.