Plants of the Gila Wilderness

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

Syntrichia montana Nees

Family: Pottiaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Tortula intermedia (Bridel) Berkeley
Tortula montana (Nees) Lindberg

Syntrichia montana is similar to S. ruralis in many ways-- it has long hairpoints, recurved margins, and one-stratose leaves. However, S. montana has hydroids in the costa-- which show up as a triangular area under the guide cells-- which S. ruralis lacks. Also, S. montana has a stem central strand which S. ruralis lacks. Both are red in KOH.

Many thanks to the University of Colorado Herbarium (COLO), Erin Tripp, & Dina Clark for loaning us this specimen for photography.

Please click on an image for a larger file.



Syntrichia montana (photomicrograph dry), collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, dark field photomicrograph of fertile stem, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, dark field photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of leaf, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of leaf base, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of leaf apex, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of leaf cells measured (distal laminal cells 8-12µm), collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of leaf cross section, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of cross section of costa (arrow at hydroids), collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of stem cross section showing central strand, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of cross section of lamina showing papillae, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023



Syntrichia montana, photomicrograph of portion of lamina in KOH with brick red color change, collection and ID by S. Flowers, Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Island, on dry saline calcareous oolite, near Great Salt Lake, 4220 ft., August, 1928; photos by Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, May 8, 2023


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