Orthotrichum cupulatum

Illustrator: Patricia M. Eckel

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants to 1.2 cm. Stem leaves erect-appressed when dry, ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 2.5–4 mm; margins recurved or revolute to near apex, entire; apex acute or rarely narrowly obtuse; basal laminal cells long- to short-rectangular, walls thin, not nodose; distal cells 8–12 µm, 1-stratose, rarely 2-stratose in streaks, papillae 2 or 3 per cell, 2-fid and large, or sometimes conic and small. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition gonioautoicous. Seta 0.5–1 mm. Capsule immersed to 1/2 emergent when dry, ovate, 1.2–1.6 mm, 16-ribbed, constricted below mouth when dry; stomata immersed; peristome single, rarely double; prostome usually present; exostome teeth 16, usually absent when capsule is old, erect, spreading-reflexed with age, papillose-striate or papillose-reticulate; endostome segments absent or rarely 8, not well developed, of 1 row of cells, short, smooth. Calyptra oblong to oblong-conic, smooth, hairy, hairs papillose. Spores 9–16 µm.

Habitat: Calcareous and large boulders in coniferous forests, dry areas of Pinus ponderosa forests, dry cliff faces in canyons
Elevation: low to high elevations (100-3000 m)

Distribution

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B.C., Ont., Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wash., Wyo., Mexico (Nuevo León), Europe, Asia, n Africa.

Discussion

Orthotrichum cupulatum is extremely variable but can be distinguished by: leaves ovate-lanceolate, broadly but sharply acute, and usually 1-stratose or occasionally partially 2-stratose; laminal cell papillae usually large and 2-fid, but if small and conic then the leaf is 1-stratose; leaf margins never thicker than lamina; peristome teeth always 16, erect or spreading, and yellow-brown; and capsule 16-ribbed, sometimes with eight short and eight long ribs. The stomata are found in one or two rows mid capsule.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.