Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Niphotrichum canescens (Hedwig) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra



Family: Grimmiaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Trichostomum canescens Hedwig
Bryum canescens (Hedwig) Withering
Grimmia canescens (Hedwig) Müller Hal.
Racomitrium canescens (Hedwig) Bridel

The genus Niphotrichum was segregated from the genus Racomitrium to which it is quite similar. In Racomitrium as it is circumscribed now, the papillae are large and flat, not tall, and the alar cells are not hyaline but brown to yellowish-orange. In Niphotrichum the papillae are tall and conical, and the alar cells are hyaline or yellowish hyaline. In Niphotrichum sect. Niphotrichum, the leaves are broadly caniculate distally rather than sharply keeled as in sect. Elongata. Niphotrichum canescens has basal cells and awns that are both obviously papillose. This species has only recently been found in New Mexico. The photographs here are from a specimen we collected in Mt. Ranier National Park in Washington.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Niphotrichum canescens, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, macro of habit, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of leaf base, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of leaf apex, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of cells at midleaf, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of stem (no central strand or hyalodermis), collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of capsule and long peristome, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023



Niphotrichum canescens, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, collection and ID by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Washington, Pierce County, Mt. Ranier National Park along Hwy 165, on boulders, June 9, 2018; photograph by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, January 2, 2023


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