Status: Native
Synonyms:
Barbula anserinocapitata X. J. Li
Didymodon anserinocapitatus is notable for the apex of each leaf being an asexual propagule. The
best hint that this plant is in hand is that most of the mature leaf apices are in fact missing.
When present, the football-shaped leaf apex is set off from the remainder of the leaf by gradual constriction and a difference in color and shape. The propagule can be orange-colored or olive green. The remainder of the leaf is quite similar to D. rigidulus in shape as well as the margins being recurved over much of the length of the leaf. Similarly as well, the papillae are low to absent and best seen along the upper leaf margin. One useful difference is that there are two rows of guide cells on leaf cross section in
the costa of D. anserinocapitatus and only one row of guide cells in the costa of D. rigidulus. D. anserinocapitatus is found along rocky cliffs and peaks in northern New Mexico.
Many thanks to the University of Colorado Herbarium and Dina Clark for loaning us the Francis & Drouet 1939 specimen (which was annotated by
R.H. Zander)!
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, dry individual stems, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, moistened individual stems, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photomicrograph of stems with most of leaf apices missing (one apex is present center bottom), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, complete leaf on stem with more commonly broken leaf to its right, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photomicrograph of apex of leaf with propagulum, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photomicrograph of complete leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photomicrograph of leaves with & without propagulum, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photomicrograph of leaf base, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, high power photomicrograph of propagulum (leaf apex), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard February 26, 2022, specimen collected by Donald Richards & Francis Drouet, San Miguel County, "in woods along Pecos River" at 6900 ft elevation, October 21, 1939
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photomicrograph of stem, photo and collection Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard along with Kelly Allred, Mo Ewing, Ron Wittman & Stacey and Chuck Anderson, San Miguel County, Santa Fe National Forest, top of Elk Mountain in open tundra at 11,610 ft elevation on sand between limestone rocks, August 2, 2023 (photo March 14, 2025)
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photomicrograph of costa with 2 apparent rows of guide cells, photo and collection Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard along with Kelly Allred, Mo Ewing, Ron Wittman & Stacey and Chuck Anderson, San Miguel County, Santa Fe National Forest, top of Elk Mountain in open tundra at 11,610 ft elevation on sand between limestone rocks, August 2, 2023 (photo March 14, 2025)
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, photomicrograph of costa with 2 apparent rows of guide cells, photo and collection Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard along with Kelly Allred, Mo Ewing, Ron Wittman & Stacey and Chuck Anderson, San Miguel County, Santa Fe National Forest, top of Elk Mountain in open tundra at 11,610 ft elevation on sand between limestone rocks, August 2, 2023 (photo March 14, 2025)
Didymodon anserinocapitatus, comparison of costal anatomy of D. anserinocapitatus and D. rigidulus, Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, March 15, 2025
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