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Calliergon giganteum
Obtuse leaves with a very strong, single costa that continues to the leaf apex are key features of this species. Branch leaves are often much narrower (and inrolled making them appear even more narrow) then the stem leaves, but all of these leaves have the strong costa. All leaves also have abruptly differentiated alar cell groups. Calliergon richardsonii is similar, but has a short double costa; C. stramineum has oblong leaves and alar cells with thickened walls; and C. cordifolium has gradually inflated alar cells and undifferentiated branch and stem leaves. Calliergon cordifolium is more common in eastern North America and occurs in more eutrophic habitats; C. richardsonii is more common in the northern boreal forest, often in shaded hollows, and C. stramineum is a species of bogs and poor fens, usually associated with Sphagnum.
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Upper left (clockwise) Calliergon giganteum in the field, alar cells, cells, apex, and whole leaf. |
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Habit |
Large, unbranched to regularly pinnately branched, brownish plants |
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Stems |
colorless, without tomentum |
Leaves |
ovate, ovate-oblong to lanceolate-ovate, obtuse, with strong single costa ending at leaf apex, entire |
Leaf Cells |
elongate-linear, smooth, most leaves having a few, clear, differentiated cells just below apex |
Alar Cells |
inflated, hyaline, isodiametric to oval, cells forming abruptly differentiated, decurrent, concave, auricles at leaf bases |
Habitat |
Emergent in pools, forming carpets, and intermixed with other brown mosses on lawns in rich fens |
Common Associates |
Scorpidium cossonii, S. scorpioides, Hamatocaulis lapponicus, and H. vernicosus are frequently found intermixed with this species. |
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