Schistidium frisvollianum

Plants in cushions or tufts, orangebrown or olivaceous. Stems 0.5–2 (–3.5) cm, central strand distinct. Leaves erect or slightly curved when dry, ovatelanceolate to ovate-triangular, sharply keeled distally, 1.3–2.4 mm, 1-stratose; margins usually recurved to apex, often sharply denticulate distally, 1-stratose or 2-stratose; apices acute; costa excurrent as a coarsely denticulate, usually decurrent, straight or flexuose awn, rarely percurrent, abaxial surface of the awn usually papillose; basal marginal cells rectangular, quadrate, or ovate; distal laminal cells quadrate or short-rectangular, 8–11 µm wide, papillose, strongly sinuose often with pale yellowish walls. Sexual condition autoicous. Capsule orangebrown or yellow when old, sometimes redbrown, ovoid-cylindric, 0.65–1.1 mm, occasionally striate; exothecial cells isodiametric or oblate, often somewhat angular, thin-walled; stomata present; peristome patent revolute, 220–330 µm, red, densely papillose, usually weakly perforated. Spores 8–11 µm, granulose or nearly smooth.

Phenology: Capsules mature late spring to early summer.
Habitat: Fissures, limestone and dolomites in Arctic fellfields, polygon fields, and on dry ridges in tundra
Elevation: low to moderate elevations (0-300 m)

N.W.T., Nunavut, Yukon, Alaska, Eurasia

Discussion

Schistidium frisvollianum is the most ornamented species of the genus in the flora area. Its strongly papillose lamina, decurrent and usually spiny-denticulate awns, and denticulate leaf margins combine with its distinctive orange-brown color to make it an easily recognizable taxon. See the comments under 5. Schistidium boreale regarding differences among the North American species of Schistidium with papillose laminal cells.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa