Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Timmia bavarica Hessl.
Family: Timmiaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
Timmia megapolitana Hedw. var. bavarica (Hessl.) Bridel
Timmia bavarica is recognized in the Gila by its large leaves that are coarsely serrate in the free portion of the leaf and entire in the sheathing part of the leaf. The leaves are generally 4-5mm long (and generally won't fit into a photomicrograph, so the whole leaves shown here are smaller than the average.) In addition, in cross section the adaxial (upper) leaf surface is bulging while the abaxial (lower) surface is not. The costa has a single row of large guide cells, with two well developed stereid bands. The costa is sometimes papillose on the abaxial surface as can be noted here. The cells of the sheathing part of the leaf are elongate and brown or colorless, while the cells of the free part of the leaf are irregularly isodiametric and green. The exostome teeth are cross striolate below and vertically striolate above. The endostome arises from a very high basement membrane and the cilia are sharply appendiculate. Timmia bavarica is found at upper elevation in mixed conifer forest growing on soil under rocks as loose aggregations or individual stems.
A note on the nomenclature: Until a few years ago, Timmia bavarica and Timmia austriaca were
considered varieties of Timmia megapolitana. They have by most authors been elevated to species level and we follow that here, although in practice the two species can be difficult to differentiate morphologically.
Please click on an image for a larger file.

Timmia bavarica, 3x macro of dry stems, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, 40x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, 40x photomicrograph of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, 400x photomicrograph of cross section of costa and portion of lamina, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, 100x photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, 400x photomicrograph of leaf apex, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, 200x photomicrograph of sheathing portion of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, 400x photomicrograph at mid lamina, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, 200x photomicrograph of cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Kelly Allred & Karen Blisard, FR 150 (Northstar Road), Rocky Canyon, November 21, 2012

Timmia bavarica, photomicrograph of cross section of stem with distinct central strand, photo Russ Kleinman, Karen Blisard, Kelly Allred & Laura Baumann, El Malpais, Classic Cave skylight, April 16, 2018

Timmia bavarica, photomicrograph of sporophyte, photo Russ Kleinman, Radha Veach & Karen Blisard, Catron County, San Francisco Mountains, Johnson Canyon, June 21, 2026

Timmia bavarica, photomicrograph of sporophyte, photo Russ Kleinman, Radha Veach & Karen Blisard, Catron County, San Francisco Mountains, Johnson Canyon, June 21, 2026

Timmia bavarica, photomicrograph of peristome, photo Russ Kleinman, Radha Veach & Karen Blisard, Catron County, San Francisco Mountains, Johnson Canyon, June 21, 2026

Timmia bavarica, photomicrograph of peristome, photo Russ Kleinman, Radha Veach & Karen Blisard, Catron County, San Francisco Mountains, Johnson Canyon, June 21, 2026

Timmia bavarica, photomicrograph of peristome, photo Russ Kleinman, Radha Veach & Karen Blisard, Catron County, San Francisco Mountains, Johnson Canyon, June 21, 2026
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