Family ORTHOTRICHACEAE

Common Names

LYELL'S ORTHOTRICHUM MOSS
LYELL'S BRISTLE MOSS

Microhabitat

This moss is epiphytic on living trees, especially alder, maple and oak, but sometimes on spruce, hemlock, yew or yellow cedar. Its habitat is too dry for most other mosses. Because of this character of this species, we did not see any specimens until we got to the end of the Tatlow Trail. We collected it on a vine maple at the edge of the forest. This moss is also found to only grow in unpolluted areas.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed throughout Europe, Mediterranean North Africa, and western Asia. It is also found in North America west of the Rocky Mountains from southeastern Alaska to Baja California, and as far east as Idaho.

Plant colony growing on a tree
Photo Credit: Yan Zhuang

Click on thumbnails to view photos

Morphology

Orthotrichum lyellii has dark green to dark brown leaves and dark brown rhizoids. Its leaves form hairy tufts. The shape of the leaf is long and narrow. Sporophytes are common. Their colour is pale brown to dark brown when mature. Sporangia are grooved when mature. The calyptra has upright hairs, and the peristome teeth are white.

Key identifying features

This species distinguishes itself by its tufted leaves, epiphytic habitat, and grooved sporangia. Under the microscope it is also characterized by its white peristome teeth and long narrow leaves. Orthotrichum lyellii is relatively large among the common Orthotrichum species. Orthotrichum striatum is a similar species, but its sporangia are not grooved when mature.

Interesting notes

The genus name Orthotrichum refers to the straight, erect hairs on the calyptra of many species. The specific epithet lyellii was originated in honour of C. Lyell, a British botantist.

Selected References

Schofield, W.B. 1992. Some common mosses of British Columbia, 2nd ed. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, Canada.

By Yan Zhuang

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© 2006 Department of Botany, University of British Columbia