Loeskypnum wickesiae

Illustrator: Patricia M. Eckel

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants medium-sized. Stem leaves ± imbricate, ovate, oblong, or obovate, abruptly narrowed to apex, straight; apex broadly acute, rounded, or apiculate with apiculus curved in over leaf, often cucullate.

Habitat: Open, intermediately mineral-rich, mostly dry wetlands, fens, seepages
Elevation: low to high elevations

Distribution

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Greenland, B.C., Nfld. and Labr., Que., Alaska, N.Y., e Asia (Japan, Russian Far East).

Discussion

Loeskypnum wickesiae is similar to L. badium in the frequently golden brown or coppery brown color, normally sparsely branched shoots, and strongly concave leaves, but differs in its straight, acute or rounded, apiculate leaves. This species could be confused with Pseudocalliergon trifarium (Amblystegiaceae), but the latter usually grows in more mineral-rich habitats, has less strongly concave, more broadly ovate leaves with a broadly rounded apex (no apiculus), lacks rhizoid initials in the leaves, and has elongate-rectangular alar cells in larger groups than in L. wickesiae. Loeskypnum wickesiae could be confused with Straminergon stramineum, but the latter is pale or whitish green to yellow-green, has a rounded leaf apex without apiculus, and has inflated and hyaline (brownish when old), thin-walled or ± incrassate alar cells in well-differentiated ovate or broadly ovate regions along the basal leaf margins.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.