Sample #8

Name: Dichodontium Pellucidum

Family: Dicranaceae

Collection Date:- 10-12-2011

Habitat: on damp and grows on soil

Location: Field Station

Description: Medium sized green plants, grow on soil

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.

 1a. Plants with stems and leaves; leaves equally spaced around the stem or, if in two opposite rows, leaf cells enlongate or isodiametric and rhizoids multicellular; sporophyte persisting for weeks or months with no elaters present in the capsule. Class III MUSCL…2

2b. Plants not as above….3

3b. Plants not as above…(p.28) Subclass 3 Bryidae

Bryidae

1b. Green, brown, yellow, or blackish plant; if empty cells occur, they are not in two or three layers or they occur at the base, apex, or margin of leaf…..3

3b. Leaves inserted in three or more rows though plants sometimes strongly flatten thus appearing into rows….7

7b. Plants with peristome of more than four teeth or the peristome absent; gemmae when present at the tips of sterile stems not arrange in a cup…8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistant…9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above….10

10b. Plants with or without a distinct stem; capsule when present with an operculum or regularly dehiscing near middle; may or may not be a ephemeral…17

17b. Plants minute to large; capsule immersed to exerted; if plants minute with immersed capsule, growing on rocks, trees or soil and not ephemeral…20

20b. Leaves without such out-growths; sometimes with deciduous gemmae….28

28b. Plants not having the above combinations of characters; peristome when present single or double, composed of teeth formed by strips of cell wall split apart through the cell cavity; growing on various substrates but not restricted to reach organic soil, bones, or other organic matter….33

33a. Stems erect, unbranched, or with branches erect, generally in tufts; archegonia and sporophytes terminal….34

34b. Leaves, especially the bases, not as above….36

36a. Leaf cells conspicuously bulging or bulging mammillose, at least on the upper side, or papillose with papillae not, or scarcely including the cell cavity, or roughened by fine longitudinal ridges…37

37a. Leaf cells conspicuously bulging mammillose, at least on upper surface…38

38b. Leaves mammillose on both sides…41

41b. Plants not as above…..42

42b. Leaf shoots 1-10cm tall, not growing from creeping stems, leaves nearly entire to finely serrate or coarsely serrate; ….(p. 79) Dichodontium

Dichodontium Pellucidum

"Plants 1.5-5.5cm tall, with spreading to squarrose leaves when moist, crisped and contorted when dry, on moist soil banks, wet clifs and near streams, Alaska, british Colmbia south to California and Arizona, texas, Utah, Colorado, Alberta, Idaho, Montana.(Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)

Links 

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200000921

http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/content/dichodontium-pellucidumflavescens

http://www.helgegg.net/page37/page37.html

Sample #7

Name: Timmia megapolitana

Family: Timmiaceae

Collection Date:- 10-12-2011

Habitat: In the woods grows on soil

Location: Field Station

Description: Medium sized green plants, grow on soil

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.

1a. Plants with stems and leaves; leaves equally spaced around the stem or, if in two opposite rows, leaf cells enlongate or isodiametric and rhizoids multicellular; sporophyte persisting for weeks or months with no elaters present in the capsule. Class III MUSCL…2

2b. Plants not as above….3

3b. Plants not as above…(p.28) Subclass 3 Bryidae

Bryidae

1b. Green, brown, yellow, or blackish plant; if empty cells occur, they are not in two or three layers or they occur at the base, apex, or margin of leaf…..3

3b. Leaves inserted in three or more rows though plants sometimes strongly flatten thus appearing into rows….7

7b. Plants with peristome of more than four teeth or the peristome absent; gemmae when present at the tips of sterile stems not arrange in a cup…8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistant…9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above….10

10b. Plants with or without a distinct stem; capsule when present with an operculum or regularly dehiscing near middle; may or may not be a ephemeral…17

17b. Plants minute to large; capsule immersed to exerted; if plants minute with immersed capsule, growing on rocks, trees or soil and not ephemeral…20

20b. Leaves without such out-growths; sometimes with deciduous gemmae….28

28b. Plants not having the above combinations of characters; peristome when present single or double, composed of teeth formed by strips of cell wall split apart through the cell cavity; growing on various substrates but not restricted to reach organic soil, bones, or other organic matter….33

33a. Stems erect, unbranched, or with branches erect, generally in tufts; archegonia and sporophytes terminal….34

34b. Leaves, especially the bases, not as above….36

36a. Leaf cells conspicuously bulging or bulging mammillose, at least on the upper side, or papillose with papillae not, or scarcely including the cell cavity, or roughened by fine longitudinal ridges…37

37a. Leaf cells conspicuously bulging mammillose, at least on upper surface…38

38a. Leaf cells mammillose on upper side; smooth or slightly papillose on lower side….39

39b. Leaf cells mainly in one layer….40

40a. Leaves broadly lanceolate from a broader base; calyptra often adhering to the tips of seta after falling from the mature capsule…..(p. 139) Timmia

Timmia

1a. Leaf sheath hyaline or yellow when old….2

2b. Leaf cells 6-9µ in diameter, rarely larger, the walls thin…..Timmia megapolitana

Timmia megapolitana

"Mainly in western North America."(Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)

Links

http://mossplants.fieldofscience.com/2010/04/timmia-megapolitana.html

http://www.jstor.org/stable/3238546

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TIME4

Sample # 6

Name: Sphagnum palustre

Family: Sphagnaceae

Collection Date:- 10-12-2011

Habitat: on damp area next to a stream

Location: Field Station

Description: Medium sized green plants, grow on soil

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.

1a. Plants with stems and leaves; leaves equally spaced around the stem or, if in two opposite rows, leaf cells enlongate or isodiametric and rhizoids multicellular; sporophyte persisting for weeks or months with no elaters present in the capsule. Class III MUSCL…2

2a. Plants with many spreading, recruved branches along the stem and clustered at the tip; leaf cells in one layer, of two kinds of cells forming the meshes of a network enclosing large rhomboidal hyaline cells…(p. 24)…Subclass 1. Sphagnidae

Subclass 1 – Sphagnidae

1a. Cortical (outer) cells of the stem and branches with fibril-bands….2

2b. Green cells of branches leaves entirely enclosed by the colorless (empty) cells or exposed equally on both surfaces...4

4b. Green cells of the branch-leaves isosceles-triangular in section. A-C. …Sphagnum palustre L.

"Shaded to open wet acid soil and stream banks, New founded southward to the Gulf Coast, west to Illinois and Alaska." (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)


Links
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SPPA70
http://eol.org/pages/373667/overview
http://www.azoresbioportal.angra.uac.pt/listagens.php?lang=pt&sstr=3&id=C00426

Speciemen # 5 Trichostomum tenuirostre

                                                          Fig1. Trichostomum tenuirostre




Name: Trichostomum tenuirostre

Family: Pottiaceae

Collection Date:- 05-10-2011

Habitat: "T. tenuirostre grows on damp or humid, acidic, shaded or unshaded rock or more
rarely on roots of trees by streams and other water courses." (Lawley 435)

Location: West woods

Description: Medium sized green plants, grow on soil, rocks and rotting logs.

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

3b. Leaves inserted in three or more rows, plant sometimes strongly flattened.........7

7b. plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth or peristome teeth absent.........8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.............9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above...................10

10b. Plants with a distinct stem ; capsule present with operculum......17

17b. plants large, capsule exserted; grows on trees.........20

20b. leaves without such outgrowth; sometimes with deciduous gemmae...............28

28b. Peristome when present single or double... growing on various substrates but not restricted to rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter..........33

33a. stems erect, unbranched, or with branches erect, generally in tufts; archegonia and sporophytes terminal (may appear lateral because of innovative branches arising below the sporophytes.)...............34

34b. leaves, especially the bases, not as above..................................36

36a. Leaf cells conspicuosly bulging or bulging mammillose, at least on the upper (ventral) side, or papillose with papillae not, or scarcely, including the cell cavity, or roughned by fine longitudinal ridges............................37

37b. leaf cells papillose or steriolate................43

43b. Alar cells not enlarged and clearly differentiated..........................................45

45b. Stems strictly upright, sparcely branched; sporophytes terminal................................................54

54b. Plants usually in more extensive tufts; usually setae longer and capsule long exerted; growing on rocks and soil.....................55

55b. leaves not as above................................................56

56b. leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, widest below the middle, long tapering to the apex; cells of the lower 1/4 of leaf various......................64

64a. Margins of leaves revolute or plane..........................65

65a. Peristome present, inserted at the mouth of the capsule; leaves linear-lanceolate from a broadly oblong to oblong-lanceolate base.................................................................(p.92)Trichostomum  tenuirostre

"Plants in loose tufts, up to 1 cm high, yeallow green above or brown below, on moist rocks, soil, rock ledges or occasionally on decaying wood or trees, British Columbia to Ontario south to Washington, Arizona, colorado, texas, Arkansas, tennessee and South Caroline. Fourth other species occur in North America." (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)

Links:

http://us.mirror.gbif.org/species/14169689
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=240002134
http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/content/trichostomum-tenuirostre
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/tro-35179839

Speciemen # 4 Timmia austriaca

                                                         FIG 1. Timmia austriaca

                                                              Fig. 2. a close look at the capsules of Timmia austriaca










Name: Timmia austriaca

Family: Timmiaceae

Collection Date: 05/10/2011

Habitat:  "This rare species grows on dry or damp, base-rich rock ledges at high altitudes, within an open turf of herbs and other mosses."(Parley 553)

Location: West Woods

Description: plants form reddish brown tufts, upto 10 cm in length.

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

3b. Leaves inserted in three or more rows, plant sometimes strongly flattened.........7

7b. plants with a peristome of more than 4 teeth or peristome teeth absent.........8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent.............9

9b. Capsule and leaves not as above...................10

10b. Plants with a distinct stem .............17

17b. plants large, capsule exserted; grows on trees.........20

20b. leaves without such outgrowth; sometimes with deciduous gemmae...............28

28b. Peristome when present single or double... growing on various substrates but not restricted to rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter..........33

33a. stems erect, unbranched, or with branches erect, generally in tufts; archegonia and sporophytes terminal (may appear lateral because of innovative branches arising below the sporophytes.)...............34

34b. leaves, especially the bases, not as above..................................36

36a. Leaf cells conspicuosly bulging or bulging mammillose, at least on the upper (ventral) side, or papillose with papillae not, or scarcely, including the cell cavity, or roughned by fine longitudinal ridges............................37

37a. Leaf cells conspicuously bulging mammilose, at least on upper surface......................38

38a. leaf cells mammillose on upper side; smooth or slightly papillose on lower side...............39

39b, leaf cells mainly in one layer...............40

40a. leaves broadly lanceolate from a broader base; calyptra often adhering to the tip of seta after falling from the mature capsule.............................(p.139) Timmia

Key to Family Timmiaceae
1b. leaf sheath orange to brown...............................Timmia austriaca.

"plants in robust, tomentose, reddish brown tufts, up to 15cm high, on soil or rocks, pacific Northwest to Nevada, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota and Michigan."(Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)

Links:

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200001586
http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/content/timmia-austriaca
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3239852
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3242346

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

Specimen # 2 Platydictya confervoides

                           
                                         Fig.1. Platydictya confervoides








Name: Platydictya confervoides

Family: Plagiotheciaceae

Collection Date: 14/09/2001

Habitat:  grow on limestone, in a woody area

Location: South Chargin Reservation

Description:  "plants small, dark green with creeping stems and erect-ascending branches, on moist, shaded limestone, southeastern Canada south to the Great Lakes and Arkansas." (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)

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

isodiametric...rhizoids multicellular..sporophyte long lived..........................2

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

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

1b. leaves with a midrib (Costa).........2

2b.green plants, if empty cells occur they are not in 2 or 3 layers or they occur at the base, apex, margin of leaf...........3

3b. Leaves inserted in three or more rows though plants sometimes strongly flattened thus appearing in two rows......7

7b. Plants with peristome of more than 4 teeth or the peristome absent; gemmae when present at the tips of sterile stems not arranged in a cup................................8

8b. Leaves well developed and persistent..........9

9b. Capsules and leaves not as above..............10

10b. plants with distinct stem, if capsule present with operculum..............................17

17b. plants not minute, growing on rocks or soils..........20

20b. leaves without such outgrowth; sometimes with deciduous gemmae..............................28

28b. plants not having the above combination of characters; growing on various substrate but not restricted to rich organic soil, bones, or other organic matter...............33

33b. stems creeping or ascending, usually extensive branched, in interwoven mats: archegonia, antheridia and sporophytes lateral or at the ends of branches..............................139

139b. leaves smooth; more or less glossy....................174

174b. paraphyllia or multicellular propagula few or none, usually not seen, if numerous, then plants complanate.........182

182b. Costa single and strong to short and/or double to absent................................183

183b. Costa single, reaching the middle of the leaf or beyond to lacking, or short and or/or double................184

184b. Costa lacking, or lacking short and / or double.............................230

230b. plants terrestrial; costa short and double...............................231

231a. Median leaf cells short, 2-5:1....................................................232

232b. Cell walls thin, equally thick all around..................................234

234a. Leaves entire.............................237

237b Cells smaller, 7-8micro wide; alar cells small and numerous............................................238

238a. leaves minute, to 0.6mm long.................................(p.183) Platydictya

1a. plants growing on limestone rocks.........Platydictya confervoides.

"plants small, dark green with creeping stems and erect-ascending branches, on moist, shaded limestone, southeastern Canada south to the Great Lakes and Arkansas." (Conrad and Redfearn, 1979)

Links:

http://data.gbif.org/species/browse/resource/594/taxon/5289848/

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/tro-35182606


http://books.google.com/books?id=fCcP6lFS4l8C&pg=PA1142&lpg=PA1142&dq=Platydictya+confervoides&source=bl&ots=bQUirj3o7a&sig=uDFFtDPOei1kP-1Lkb6yGexkmwA&hl=en&ei=jCSVTpagK4Xo0QH6gtSpBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Platydictya%20confervoides&f=false


http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PLCO14