Speiemen # 3 Fissidens taxifolius

Fig. 1.  Fissidens taxifolius  

                                                         Fig. 2. Closer look at the leaf of  Fissidens taxifolius 








Name: Fissidens taxifolius 

Family: fissidentaceae

Collection Date: 05/10/2011

Habitat: found in wooland, on rocks and soil

Location: West Woods

Description: small plants, grows on soil and rocks and base of a tree.

Collector: Getachew Hatsey

Key Used: Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 19

1a. Plants with stems and leaves; leaves spaced equally around the stem or...leaf cells elongate and isodiametric...rhizoids multicellular..sporophyte long lived..........................2

2b. Plants not as above...................3

3b. plants not as above....................(p.28) Subclass 3. BRYDAE.

key to Genera  Bryidae

1b. Green plants...empty cells at the base, apex, or margin of leaf.............3

3a. Leaves inserted on the stem in two rows............................4

4a. Leaves appearing split at the base consisting of two vaginant laminae which clasp the stem as well as the base of the leaf above; wing like laminae extending dorsally and apically........................................(p.62) fissidens

key to order fissidantales
1b. Plants on earth, trees, or rocks, normally submerged..........................................4
4b. Leaves not bordered with long cells.....11
11b. Margins of leaves coarsely to finely and evenly serrate...........................14
14b. Margins finely and evenly serrate......17
17. Costa percurrent to shortly excurrent; sporophyte lateral...................................18
18a.  Costa stout, usually filling the apex, short excurrent; cells of upper leaf conically papillose or mammillose............Fissidens taxifolius 

These plants are generally small and grow on rock cracks, soil. Usually found in woodland, area that is undisturbed. They are found in British Columbia to California and Arizona.


Links:
http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/content/fissidens-taxifolius-var-taxifoliuspallidicaulis
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200001070
http://data.gbif.org/species/14171945