Orthotrichum pallens

Plants 0.3–1 cm. Stem leaves loosely erect-appressed and slightly incurved when dry, oblong-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, 1.6–3 mm; margins recurved to near apex, entire or crenulate at apex; apex narrowly obtuse, acute, or apiculate; basal laminal cells rectangular, walls thin, not nodose; distal cells 9–14 µm, 1-stratose, papillae 2 or rarely 3 per cell, conic, low. Specialized asexual reproduction occasional, by gemmae on leaves. Sexual condition cladautoicous. Seta 0.5–1.5 mm. Capsule emergent to barely exserted, oblong to oblong-cylindric, 1–2.5 mm, strongly 8-ribbed, narrowly cylindric and contracted along entire length when old; stomata immersed, to 1/2 covered by subsidiary cells, cells not projecting, inner walls not much thickened; peristome double; prostome absent; exostome teeth 8, erect, reflexed or recurved-reflexed with age, finely papillose, densely papillose, or papillose-striate; endostome segments 8 or 16, well developed, of 1 or 2 rows of cells, smooth or finely papillose. Calyptra conic-oblong, smooth, naked or sparsely hairy, hairs smooth. Spores 10–20 µm.

Distribution

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North America, Mexico, Europe.

Discussion

Varieties 9 (3 in the flora).

Orthotrichum pallens is distinguished by the immersed stomata that are scarcely covered by thin-walled subsidiary cells. The peristome is double with a well-developed endostome of 16 (or eight) segments that remains intact until the capsule is quite old. Gametophytically, O. pallens is distinguished by narrowly obtuse, oblong-lanceolate leaves, and an autoicous sexual condition.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Orthotrichum pallens var. crenulatum, Orthotrichum pallens var. johnseniae, Orthotrichum pallens var. pallens

Key

1	Leaf margins crenulate at apex.	Orthotrichum pallens var. crenulatum
1	Leaf margins entire	> 2
2	Endostome segments 16; calyptrae naked; sporadic throughout North America.	Orthotrichum pallens var. pallens
2	Endostome segments 8; calyptrae sparsely hairy; Arizona.	Orthotrichum pallens var. johnseniae