Plagiothecium piliferum (Sw.) Schimp.

  • Authority

    Buck, William R. 1987. Bryostephane Steereana: A Collection of Bryological Papers Presented to William Campbell Steere On The Occasion of His 80th Birthday. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 45: 1-749.

  • Family

    Plagiotheciaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Plagiothecium piliferum (Sw.) Schimp.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Spore morphology: Size: 9-13 µm in diameter mean 11 µm. Color: green to yellowish brown Shape: spherical to somewhat ovoid. Sculpture branched-baculate, the baculi distant (Figs. 4,5 or sometimes close (Fig. 6), 0.2-0.3 µm in diameter at base, 0.4-0.6 µm in height, usually covered with small, conic papillae (Fig. 5), the spore surface between the baculi often minutely roughened (Fig. 4).

  • Discussion

    Figs. 1-6

    The branched-baculate type of omamentation on the spores of P. piliferum is strikingly distinct from the gemmate sculpturing on the spores of the other six species of Plagiothecium. The SEM reveals the baculi are quite tall compared to the low gemma elements in the other species. This fact is also observable to a certain extent under the light microscope where the spores of P. piliferum appear more strongly papillose than the others.